India’s World Cup Struggles Without Jasprit Bumrah Spur Concerns
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed concerns about India’s performance in the upcoming ODI World Cup, particularly in the knockout games, due to the absence of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is set to make his comeback in the T20 series in Ireland after a year-long injury layoff following a back surgery.
Kaif believes that India’s chances in the World Cup heavily depend on the return of their injured players. Bumrah’s fitness will be closely monitored during the T20 series, as India needs him to be fully fit to perform well in the tournament, especially on home ground.
The absence of Bumrah has had a significant impact on India’s performance in previous tournaments. Kaif highlights the losses India suffered in the Asia Cup T20 and the 2022 T20 World Cup as evidence that the team struggles without Bumrah. Currently, the Indian team is missing key players such as K L Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer, further weakening the team’s overall strength.
Criticism was directed towards India for experimenting with their playing XI during the ODI series in the Caribbean and giving rest to captain Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli. Kaif believes that India’s final playing XI will be better assessed during the Asia Cup.
Kaif suggests that India needs to finalize their playing XI and identify backup players from the Asia Cup onwards. He also mentions the inclusion of Ishan Kishan as a reserve wicketkeeper in the World Cup squad due to his impressive performances. However, it remains to be seen if Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer will all be part of the final 15.
According to Kaif, India’s World Cup journey will truly begin with the semi-finals, as they will need to win two big games to lift the title. Despite the challenges posed by Bumrah’s absence and the absence of key players, Kaif remains confident that India will qualify for the quarter-finals.
The concerns surrounding India’s World Cup struggles without Jasprit Bumrah highlight the importance of having a fully fit and strong team. The upcoming T20 series will be a crucial test for Bumrah and will provide insight into his fitness level ahead of the World Cup. As India aims for success on home soil, they must address their team composition and ensure they have the right players in place to overcome any hurdles they may face in the tournament.
