With about two weeks remaining for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, India’s talismanic bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was initially named in the squad, has been ruled out due to a stress fracture. Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer believes there is no worthy replacement for Bumrah that pacer Mohammed Shami is the best option as the replacement.
Jaffer said that Bumrah will be “sorely” missed, adding that there is no one in the current team who is as good as the pacer in the death overs. While the former batter feels that Shami is the best replacement, India’s death over concerns would still prevail. He called Bumrah’s absence a “massive blow” to the Men in Blue’s preparations.
“I don’t think we have got a replacement for Bumrah," Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo. “He is a vital cog in this Indian team and he’ll be sorely missed. We haven’t got anyone as good as Bumrah to bowl in the Powerplay as well as in the death (overs) especially. But the best guy to replace him would probably be Mohammed Shami. But again the death bowling is a concern with Shami. (Bumrah’s absence) it’s going to be a massive blow for India’s preparation."
They rushed him into playing against Australia: Wasim Jaffer
Bumrah, since the India tour of England in July, was out of the team until the recently-concluded T20I series against Australia due to a back spasm. This also kept him out of the Asia Cup 2022 that was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Although Bumrah was still on the road to recovery, he was named in the T20 World Cup squad as he was expected to recover in the meantime. And Jaffer feels that the Indian management might have just rushed the bowler into playing against Australia that may have aggravated the injury.
“In hindsight, maybe they rushed him into playing against Australia," Jaffer said. “He might have taken more time and get ready for world cup. (But) we don’t know the seriousness of the injury. Probably the stress fracture might have been there but not to that extent. It might have got worse with him playing two games (vs Australia). They kind of jump the gun and made him play those games early."
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