Former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden was asked the question of selecting a single player from the present Indian cricket team to join Australia’s lineup for the upcoming ODI World Cup. In his response, he shared the name of the renowned batting superstar, Virat Kohli, and instead opted for a 29-year-old star fast bowler.
Virat Kohli‘s exceptional batting prowess places him among the elite cricketers of all time. His remarkable statistics across all three formats of the game serve as a testament to his skill. Kohli, aged 34, stands as the highest run-scorer in T20Is, boasts an impressive record of nearly 13,000 runs in ODIs, and has accumulated over 8,500 Test runs.
Not only a prolific batter, Kohli also distinguished himself as a leader who elevated the Indian cricket team to new heights during his captaincy tenure. Despite not clinching any ICC trophies, his captaincy saw India’s historic victory in a Test series against Australia on Australian soil in 2018-19.
Virat Kohli’s popularity extends far beyond India’s borders, particularly resonating with fans in Australia. Esteemed Australian cricketers and experts hold him in high regard as well. However, when the inquiry was put to Matthew Hayden, the former Australian opener, regarding his choice of a player from the current Indian squad to bolster Australia’s chances in the forthcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, he overlooked Kohli’s credentials. Instead, he picked a 29-year-old sensation.
In Hayden’s estimation, having been the leading run-scorer in the 2007 ODI World Cup, he indicated his preference for acquiring the services of Jasprit Bumrah, the present Indian team’s remarkable fast bowler. Bumrah, a standout figure in India’s fast bowling lineage, is primed to represent his country in the forthcoming ODI World Cup, scheduled to commence on October 5.
“Jasprit Bumrah is the one player from the Indian team who I wish play for Australia in the World Cup” – Matthew Hayden
Bumrah left an indelible mark in the 2019 edition of the ODI World Cup as India’s premier wicket-taker. His recent return to the Indian squad after a period of anticipation was marked by his participation in the initial T20I match against Ireland in Dublin. Moreover, on August 21, he secured a place in the 17-member India squad for the Asia Cup 2023.
“Jasprit Bumrah is the one player from the Indian team who I wish play for Australia in the World Cup,” Hayden said during the CEAT event in Mumbai on Monday.
In summary, Matthew Hayden’s choice to eschew Virat Kohli and favour the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah from the current Indian team speaks volumes about Bumrah’s stature as a potent and impactful cricketer, even drawing the admiration of an accomplished figure like Hayden.
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