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.
Jasprit Bumrah has been officially disqualified from the T20 World Cup due to a back ailment, the BCCI announced in a statement on Monday. His chances of winning were tenuous at best.
The best fast bowler for India, Bumrah, was taken out of the three-match T20I series against South Africa because of a back strain. The doubt surrounding his availability increased after last week’s initial reports of his expulsion from India’s T20 World Cup team when India coach Rahul Dravid and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly refused to rule him out. A release on Monday night put an end to all the suspicions, dealing India—who is already playing without its outstanding all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja—a serious blow.
Regarding Bumrah’s replacement, the management is still dragging its feet. The BCCI will soon decide whether to select one of the two reserve players, Mohammed Shami or Deepak Chahar or invite someone from outside the team, like Mohammed Siraj for the main squad. Siraj, Bumrah’s replacement against South Africa, was announced recently, and Shami, who hasn’t played in a T20I for India since World Cup last year, was spotted warming up inside the nets.
Even though all three are considered contenders, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Bumrah’s absence will be difficult to fill. Given how terrible India’s death bowling has been lately, this is particularly true. 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.
The image returned to tourment India, but Rohit Sharma and company managed to defend 237. Bumrah was the only Indian pacer who did not give up runs, as seen by the two T20I matches he participated in against Australia. Gavaskar thinks this might be a major problem for India come World Cup time.
India would 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 has such a significant impact, according to Gavaskar’s Mid-Day column.
In the two games he participated in, we observed 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 manner they took advantage of the circumstances in Thiruvananthapuram.
Gavaskar also offered his opinion on the prospect of Axar Patel succeeding Ravindra Jadeja. Axar has proven his talent with the bat as well, aiding India in a thrilling victory over the West Indies in August. Axar may now get his chance to shine for India at the biggest platform of them all after honing his abilities for years playing in the IPL, says Gavaskar.
Axar Patel is filling in for Ravindra Jadeja to a large extent, and his bowling style does suggest that he can both limit runs and take wickets. He has gradually increased diversity by skillfully using the crease as well as delivery speeds and angles. The left-handed all-rounder has made excellent use of all the IPL experience he has gained. The illustrious Indian batsman said that he would once again be a guy to watch out for.