Jasprit Bumrah is unique. He is the only Indian cricketer who is universally loved by fans. His injury did not lead to a single meme, and almost every fan was worried about him not being there for India. His return to the IPL was celebrated the country over, and in many ways, Bumrah has been able to unite the toxic worlds of Indian cricket fandom.
There could be two reasons behind this. First, he is India’s most valuable player by a country mile. In batting, there have been occasions where Rohit Sharma has done better than Virat Kohli and vice versa. But when it comes to Bumrah, he has always been the Pied Piper whenever he has played. His skill set is unmatched and his presence was the singular factor that made India competitive in Australia. It is no exaggeration to say that his presence could well define India’s performance in England in the five-Test series starting June 20.
This unique skill set was yet again on view in the match against the Gujarat Titans (GT). GT were cruising at one stage with Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar in control. Washington, promoted ahead of Sherfane Rutherford, was playing a blinder. That’s when Hardik Pandya turned to Bumrah. In a match where 12 was par for the over, he conceded four runs and cleaned up Washington with an unplayable yorker. All of a sudden, the momentum shifted and MI were back in the hunt.
Tonight, it could yet again be the Bumrah factor against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). How they handle Bumrah could well decide the game. Can they play him out and not give him wickets? Can they at least score 28-30 runs off his four overs? Can they make sure he doesn’t have much impact?
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Each time MI come under pressure, Hardik turns to Bumrah. He knows the opposition will not take chances against the world’s best, and MI will have an opportunity to come back into the game. In high-pressure knockouts, even more so.
Qualifier 2 could be the same, and that’s what leads me to say that it is Bumrah, either way, who will decide this game. If he goes for runs, Punjab will wrest control. The opposite, and it could be an MI v RCB final.
For all of these reasons, India should be extremely careful with Bumrah. He is the one player in the current set-up who is indispensable. Not Shubman Gill, not Rishabh Pant, not anyone else. It is Bumrah India can’t do without. While the selectors will surely want him to play the at least four Tests in England, the reality is that Bumrah can’t be risked. It is a back injury and not the first one. For someone with an awkward action, the chances of back injuries is always there, and with limited gaps between the second and third, and the fourth and fifth Tests, India can’t afford to risk him.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said it nicely. “His skill set is such that not many in the world will find it comfortable playing him,” said Clarke. “While some bowlers are good in certain conditions, Bumrah is at ease in any conditions in any part of the world. That’s what makes him a standout option for India.”
Also Read: Bumrah’s return, top-order form and Kuldeep’s wristy magic – Key takeaways from the IPL