Jasprit Bumrah completely recovered and prepared?
Before considering using Bumrah in the Asia Cup, it will first be evaluated if he can bowl four overs per match without any issues during the T20 series against Ireland.
A few weeks ago, a video surfaced of Jasprit Bumrah bowling at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. While it was difficult to see the details from that distance, fans couldn’t help but hope and celebrate. Another video followed, this time showing Bumrah bowling to KL Rahul. Once again, relief flooded through the fans. This just shows how much Indian cricket has missed Bumrah in his absence.
Upon reflection of India’s recent T20I series loss to the West Indies, one could easily conclude that the home team merely had to contend with the spin threat posed by Kuldeep Yadav and occasionally Yuzvendra Chahal. Meanwhile, they capitalized on the opposition’s weak link – their pace bowling component.
Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar performed admirably, but their success in dismantling the West Indies’ fragile batting lineup was unexpected.
In the decisive match on Sunday, Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King had one job: to prevent Kuldeep from taking any wickets. Remarkably, Kuldeep finished with figures of 0/18 from his four overs. However, despite this effort, the home team comfortably chased down a target of 165 with two overs to spare, losing only two wickets in the process. Mukesh and Arshdeep bowled a total of three overs together, conceding 30 runs and taking just one wicket. Throughout the T20I series, skipper Hardik Pandya emerged as India’s most effective wicket-taker but even he wouldn’t consider himself as the leader of the pace attack.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland holds great importance. While the outcome of these three matches may already be predictable and considered insignificant in the bigger picture, it is their performance and how they handle their workload that will capture the interest of fans, particularly with the 50-over World Cup just seven weeks away.
Ahead of the big event, India’s pace bowling bench strength, once the envy of the cricketing world, was suddenly exposed. With Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj being rested and Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna sidelined due to injury, inexperienced players like Avesh Khan and Shivam Mavi had to step up. However, they still lack experience. Additionally, the selectors seem hesitant to trust Umesh Yadav with the white ball. While Jaydev Unadkat brings a left-arm angle and ample experience to the table, he is unlikely to pose a significant threat to quality batsmen.
Although spinners are expected to have an advantage in the World Cup being held in India, a bowler like Bumrah doesn’t solely rely on surface conditions or external factors to make an impact. Additionally, India has struggled on spin-friendly surfaces recently, as seen in their matches against the West Indies and Australia earlier this year. Therefore, it becomes crucial for the pace bowling department to perform effectively.
A fully-fit Bumrah is good enough
With Bumrah’s exceptional pace, distinctive bowling action, intelligence, and cleverness, the Indian bowling attack gains a distinct advantage. Of course, this is assuming he has fully recuperated from his back injury and is in peak form. The combination of Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Kuldeep, and Ravindra Jadeja in the bowling lineup will surely make Indian fans envision remarkable accomplishments come October-November.
However, Indian selectors have made the mistake of bringing back Bumrah too quickly after previous injuries. As a result, he was unavailable for nearly a year leading up to last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. This time around, they are taking a cautious approach by first ensuring that he can successfully bowl four overs per match without any issues. Only after confirming his fitness during the Asia Cup and the home ODI series against Australia will they consider increasing his workload to 10 overs in preparation for the World Cup.
The selectors and Indian team management have a high regard for Prasidh because of his skill in generating bounce from a length. Even if he doesn’t make it into the first-choice XI, he would be a valuable backup option if he can return to his previous level before his injury.
As the big event approaches, India’s middle order remains uncertain, with little time left to solidify their lineup. The fitness status of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer is unknown, adding to the team’s uncertainty. To keep their campaign successful, India will heavily rely on their bowling attack. A fit-again Jasprit Bumrah will be crucial in taking early wickets, making breakthroughs in the middle overs, and maintaining control over scoring rates at the end of innings. Bumrah’s partnership with Mohammed Shami has proven impressive and captivating for cricket enthusiasts, and it could be a key factor in how far India progresses in the tournament, along with the Jadeja-Kuldeep partnership.
In T20 cricket, Shami tends to rely on his Test-match skills and doesn’t emphasize much on varying his pace or introducing different techniques. On the other hand, Bumrah’s repertoire seems unlimited when it comes to bowling. He effortlessly executes yorkers, slower balls, bouncers, and cutters with precision.
While most teams are finalizing their squads for the World Cup, the host team is still evaluating their options. However, one thing is certain: they will give Bumrah all the necessary time before making a final decision. His contribution to their chances of success is invaluable. With Bumrah at his best, batsmen are immediately put on the backfoot. In today’s era of consistently increasing ODI scores, this is a significant advantage. Taking wickets remains the most effective way to control the run rate, and Bumrah excels in this aspect more than most bowlers.
