Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja’s T20 World Cup absence is an opportunity to unearth a new champion. Earlier, Jadeja was ruled out of the T20 World Cup while playing in the Asia Cup due to a knee injury.
Subsequently, India suffered even a major blow as their gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with a back injury. However, in the absence of these two talismanic players, it will be a great opportunity for the other players to step up.
Jadeja will be deeply missed in the field and also for his batting in the lower middle order whereas Bumrah’s absence leaves a big gulf in India’s bowling, especially at the death overs.
Erg, players like Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh will need to take the onus on their shoulders.
“[It’s] unfortunate,” Shastri said of Bumrah’s injury at the launch of Coaching Beyond, his new initiative with Bharat Arun and R Sridhar, in Chennai. “There’s so much cricket being played, and people get injured. He is injured, but it’s an opportunity for somebody else. There is nothing you can do with injury.
“I think we have got enough strength and we have a good team. I have always believed if you make it to the semi-finals, it could be anyone’s tournament. The endeavour would be to start well, get to the semis, and then you have got enough strength to probably win the [World] Cup, for all you know. Bumrah not being there, Jadeja not being there – it hampers the side – but it’s an opportunity to unearth a new champion.”
On the other hand, it has been hinted that Mohammad Shami could replace Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup squad as the former has the experience of playing in Australian conditions.
“Precisely, his experience [in Australian conditions is his strength],” Shastri said of Shami. “India have been there a lot in the last six years and he has been an integral part of all those tours. So that experience [of having done well in Australia] counts.”
India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on 23rd October.
