Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed his concerns about India’s chances in the 2023 World Cup if their lead pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, is unavailable due to injury. According to Mohammad Kaif, India lacks viable options in the bowling department, making it challenging to field a strong team without Bumrah.
The 42-year-old emphasized Bumrah’s importance to the team, stating that India’s performance in the tournament would heavily depend on the pace bowler’s fitness and ability to make a successful comeback.
“The players who are injured, India’s chances in the World Cup will depend a lot on that (their comeback). Bumrah is coming now after a long injury lay off and we will get an idea on how fit he is.”
“India need a fully fit Bumrah to do well in World Cup at home,” he was quoted as saying in a PTI report during the launch of Amrit Mathur’s book ‘Pitchside’ on Wednesday, August 2.
“In the bowling department, you can’t have two teams. If Bumrah doesn’t play, we will lose, like we did in Asia Cup T20 and 2022 T20 World Cup. We don’t have his back up,” the 42-year-old added.
Jasprit Bumrah has been recovering from back surgery since earlier in the year and has not played for India since September 2022. Despite his absence, he has been named as the captain for the upcoming T20I series in Ireland, offering a glimmer of hope for his return to the national side.
VIDEO | "At the moment, the Indian Team is not looking the strongest on paper as it is missing key players, including KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and the biggest factor is Jasprit Bumrah," says @MohammadKaif. pic.twitter.com/IFAacyXj0s
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 2, 2023
“The team is not looking the strongest on paper” – Kaif mentions India’s injured players
Kaif highlighted the significance of having key players fit and ready for the World Cup, as India’s chances in the tournament will largely rely on their successful comeback from injuries.
Notably, the former cricketer cited past instances, such as the Asia Cup T20 and the 2022 T20 World Cup, where India’s performance suffered due to Bumrah’s unavailability.
“At the moment the team is not looking the strongest on paper as it is missing key players including K L Rahul, Pant, Iyer and the biggest factor is Bumrah,” the former batter stated.
All ears when the 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 speaks 🗣️
𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎 – @BrianLara in conversation with @ShubmanGill & @ishankishan51 at the Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad👌👌 – By @ameyatilak
Full Conversation – https://t.co/xWbvEz9kjU #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/AOLgonqyGE
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 2, 2023
In light of Bumrah’s recovery process, India’s bowling department seems to be a cause of concern. Kaif pointed out that the team cannot afford to have two distinct squads, and without Bumrah, India’s chances of success may be compromised.
Furthermore, India’s injury list extends beyond Bumrah, including key players such as KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant. Kaif admitted that the current state of the team is not looking promising on paper due to these fitness woes.
Looking ahead, recent reports suggest that KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are unlikely to be selected for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.