India pacer Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t played the game since September last year. After pushing himself to get some game time ahead of the 20-20 World Cup 2022. he has played a single game of cricket. In January this year, Bumrah was anticipated to return to the Men In Blue. However, thanks to the fear of what happened last year, the Indian team management decided not to risk his injury.
Meanwhile, ahead of the World Test Championship final 2023, Shastri has said that if Bumrah was available, both teams would have had equal chances. The right-arm pacer is expected to complete his rehabilitation in August this year.
“Look at the pace attacks. Which side has the better attack? If Bumrah was here, then I would say equal, with Shami, Bumrah and Siraj. But now when you look at that Australian attack – Cummins and Starc, though Hazlewood is gone,” he said in a conversation on Star Sports.
Australia is a slight favorite: Wasim Akram
Meanwhile, in the same conversation, the likes of Ricky Ponting and Wasim Akram also gave their takes on the game. The former said that Michael Neser, who replaced injured Josh Hazlewood might be included in the playing XI. On the other hand, Akram has called Australia a slight favorite
“Nesser has obviously been doing great here in County cricket but Boland has got an excellent record. What we have seen in Australia is that when there is anything in the surface at all, he has just been about Australia’s best bowler. He will take Hazlewood’s place,” he said.
“Slight favourites, yes. There wasn’t much a difference between the two sides in the last two years which means that they have beaten more oppositions than they have lost to,” he explained.
This is how Twitter reacted
Agree!!
— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) June 4, 2023
Rohit Sharma after lifting trophy pic.twitter.com/GU6UZskc3w
— imcarefuel (@imcarefuel) June 4, 2023
Bumrah is literally the worst Indian bowler to play in icc knockouts lol
— akshat (@StanVirat) June 4, 2023
If dead wickets would not have been made for Indian home matches then they would be watching from home. So no if’s and but’s in cricket
— ?? ????? ?????? (@aiqibirshad) June 4, 2023
With Rishabh and Jasprit in Team India's Playing XI, it would've been 50:50 before the start of the WTC Final. It appears that at present, the Aussies hold an edge. But Cricket is a Game of Glorious Uncertainties. Let's hope for the BEST.
— @ Subhrajit_Dasgupta (@Subhrajit_Dg) June 5, 2023
But Josh is out.
They have Boland,Pat and Starc.
I would believe that Umesh is a like for like match to Boland(prolly even better). But maybe he hasn't had enough game time in overseas.— Aditya Sinha (@aditya_sinhaop) June 4, 2023
Deep inside, we all know it's going to be tough for India. Australia has brighter chances!
— Mahesh Sharma (@Mahesh2Sharma2) June 4, 2023
We have to get over Bumrah fandome he is never fit when reqd and doesn’t deliver in crucial matches
— kapils (@kapilsurve) June 4, 2023
What will be the use of 2 seamers in England ?
Keep 1 seamer or no seamer. There should be 3/4 swing based bowlers with 1 left hander.
We lost cz of same reason last time… there was huge diff in swing degree deviations between Ind and Nzl pacers.— Priyam (@___priyam2) June 4, 2023
Who bumrah? Heard that name somewhere
— Partho Chakravarty (@ComPartho) June 4, 2023
