“With due respect to every other player….”
While alternatives like Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Deepak Chahar may be considered, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, it will be practically impossible for India to replace Jasprit Bumrah at the T20 World Cup.
The biggest nightmare of the Indian cricket squad has come true. According to a statement released by the BCCI on Monday, Jasprit Bumrah has been officially disqualified from the T20 World Cup due to a back injury. His chances of competing were hanging by a thread.
The three-match T20I series against South Africa was postponed due to a back ailment for India’s finest fast bowler, Bumrah. His exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup team was announced last week, but the ambiguity around his availability grew when Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, and Sourav Ganguly, the president of the BCCI, refused to absolutely rule him out. Ravindra Jadeja, India’s star all-rounder, was left out after all the rumors were put to bed on Monday night with a release.
However, the management is still stalling in regard to Bumrah’s replacement. The BCCI will soon decide whether to select one of the two reserve players, Mohammed Shami or Deepak Chahar, for the main squad or to invite someone from outside the team, such as Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj has lately been named as Bumrah’s substitute for the match against South Africa, and Shami, who hasn’t participated in a T20I for India since the World Cup last year, was seen warming up in the nets.
Replacement for T20 World Cup:-
Even though all three of them may be viewed as contenders, Bumrah’s absence, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, will be difficult to fill. Given how terrible India’s death bowling has been lately, this is particularly true. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel, the trio of bowlers, had all lost wickets in their most recent three overs, notably the 19th.
It is what cost India the two crucial games they lost in the Asia Cup Super 4s against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as the opening T20I against Australia in which they were unable to hold on to a 208-point advantage. An identical picture tormented India in the second T20I match against South Africa, but Rohit Sharma and the team were able to protect 237.
Bumrah was the only Indian pacer who did not give up runs, as evidenced by the two T20I matches he participated in against Australia. Gavaskar thinks this could be a major problem for India come World Cup time.
“India will suffer a great deal without Jasprit Bumrah on the World Cup roster. With all due respect to the other players, Bumrah is the only member of the Indian team whose absence would be so felt “Gavaskar published a piece in his Mid-Day column.
“In the two games he participated in, we noticed how productive he was and how his presence inspired the other bowlers. Whether he returned too soon is now only speculation, but the reality is that his absence hurts India’s chances at the T20 World Cup greatly. It is possible that, with a little luck, Deepak Chahar and young Arshdeep Singh can fill in a good deal of the gap created by Bumrah’s absence given the way they took advantage of the circumstances in Thiruvananthapuram.”
Gavaskar also offered his opinion on the prospect of Axar Patel succeeding Ravindra Jadeja. Even though his batting and fielding may not be on par with Jadeja’s, Axar has recently bowled superbly for India in the Powerplays.
Axar has proven his talent with the bat as well, aiding India in a thrilling victory over the West Indies in August. After refining his skills for years playing in the IPL, Axar may finally get his chance to shine for India at the grandest stage of them all, according to Gavaskar.
Axar Patel is largely filling in for Ravindra Jadeja, and his bowling technique does indicate that he has the ability to both restrict runs and take wickets. By expertly utilizing the crease as well as delivery speeds and angles, he has gradually developed variability. The left-handed all-rounder has utilized his IPL experience to great effect. The legendary Indian hitter warned that he will be the man to watch out for going forward.
