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India’s pace attack for the Champions Trophy appears a little vulnerable in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah
Arshdeep Singh has taken 14 wickets from 9 ODIs so far. (BCCI Photo)
Former England cricketer David Lloyd reckons that India will definitely feel the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the upcoming Champions Trophy. Bumrah was ruled out from the ICC event due to fitness concerns and is currently recovering at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. The right-arm pacer suffered from back spasms during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
The 31-year-old has been a key performer for India in major tournaments including at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and the recent five-match Test tour of Australia.
Lloyd feels Bumrah’s absence is a ‘problem’ for India.
“You are going to miss him (Bumrah),” Lloyd said on TalkSPORT. “You can’t get away from the fact that the best bowler in the world isn’t playing, then you’ve got a problem.”
With Bumrah not playing, India’s pace attack has a look of vulnerability. It comprises the seasoned campaigner Mohammed Shami who recently made his return from a long injury layoff. It also has the inexperienced duo of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana who have played a combined 12 ODIs between them.
Lloyd advises India’s opponents at the Champions Trophy to target left-arm pacer Arshdeep who, though regular in T20Is, has only played 9 ODIs so far in his international career.
“If you are the opposition, test him (Arshdeep) out, really get into him. This is not T20, this not a little party, you’ve got to come back and come back again, and that is something he won’t be used to. If you are the opposition, you try and play on that, let’s see what he’s got,” Lloyd said.
Arshdeep has played 63 T20Is so far and taken 99 wickets in them. On the other hand, in 9 ODIs so far, the 26-year-old has wickets.
India have Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh for company in Group A of Champions Trophy. The Rohi Sharma-led side will face Bangladesh in their first match of the tournament next week.
