The 28-year-old lanky fast bowler with an unconventional action who has been India’s match-winner across all three formats is set to miss the upcoming World Cup due to an injury. There seems to be no break in sight for the Indian team, and it is coming at a bad time as the World Cup approaches.
What appeared to be a solid team will now suffer a setback due to the absence of the highly ranked T20 bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah injury details
The fast bowler is said to have suffered a back sprain. He had complained about the same ahead of the first T20I against South Africa. And then was rested from the squad.
However, what BCCI earlier quoted as a minor discomfort has turned out to be anything but minor. And the bowler is more than likely to miss out on 4-6 months of cricket.
This is not the first time that Bumrah has been injured for a long spell. In face many pundits believe that he was rushed back to the team after his previous injury.
Jasprit was forced out of the recently ended Asia Cup owing to a back issue, and the selection committee made the sensible decision to sit him out. He was selected for the T20 series against Australia but rested as a precaution. However, after India lost the first game, it appears that he was rushed back into the team with the series on the line, which may have cost them the World Cup.
Certain purists have often chastised Bumrah for his action, and they foresaw this injury, but it couldn’t have come at a worse moment. With Shami recently testing negative for Covid-19 and being in the standby squad, there is an increased likelihood that he would be chosen instead of Bumrah.
The Indian quartet would comprise Bhuveneshwar, Shami, Arshdeep, and Harshal. Hardik Pandya would bowl if needed.
One man’s loss might be a gain for Mohammad Shami
Bygones are bygones, and one man’s loss is another man’s gain, as the saying goes. Shami has an opportunity to redeem himself after a difficult few months following the conclusion of the IPL. It’s time for experienced players to stand up and mentor youngsters like Harshal and Arshdeep. In the absence of Bumrah, Bhuveneshwar Kumar is more likely to get the ball at the death, giving him an opportunity to erase his negative death over records.
They would now be missing their two most experienced match winners in the form of Jadeja and Jasprit. The onus is now on Shami and Hardik to play out of their skins and fill in the void.
