Jasprit Bumrah going wicketless is a rarest sight n the cricket world. The same was witnessed in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra gives the reason behind Bumrah’s dip in form.
Since India’s premier fast bowler Bumrah has recovered from the back injury, he is rarely managed to hit wickets. Well, Ashish Nehra, whose career was also prone to injury, said that it is difficult to return to the same form after the injury.
There’s too much pressure on Jasprit Bumrah: Ashish Nehra:
Furthermore, it’s unfair to expect every time, the best from Bumrah. Nehra believes that other pacers should also become more responsible for their job because it might reduce the workload of Bumrah.
“You can’t expect Bumrah to deliver in every series. One has to remember he is returning from injury. It’s difficult for anybody to keep performing at the top of his game all the time. Even Virat Kohli has had a quiet series,” former India pacer Ashish Nehra told TOI.
“The Indian team management could be much better while picking the playing XI. The other pacers, besides Bumrah and (Mohammad) Shami, need to know their roles. They have got used to having Bumrah and Shami firing for the last two years. There’s too much pressure on Bumrah. There has been very little consistency in the team selection so far,” Nehra further added.
In the ODI series against New Zealand, Bumrah bowled 10 overs each but failed to pick a wicket of opposition.
Known as a death-over specialist, he bowled some economical spells but failed to claim a wicket. 10 overs 0/53, 10 overs 0/64 and 10 overs 0/50 are the figures registered by Bumrah in his three games.
‘Saini is better prepared for Test cricket than Umesh Yadav’: Ashish Nehra
Meanwhile, New Zealand and India will head to play the Two match Test series which will start from 21st January.
Young pacer Navdeep Saini has earned up the maiden call in the Test squad.
Nehra believes that Saini is in better form and is likely to get a place in spite of Umesh Yadav.
“In the current scenario, Saini is better prepared for Test cricket than Umesh Yadav, since he has the momentum with the team. But he largely depends on the back-of a-length deliveries. If he can get his length a bit fuller at his pace, he would open up more chances of getting wickets behind the stumps,” Nehra said.
The first and second Test matches will be played at Wellington and Christchurch respectively. The opener will begin on 21st February at the Basin Reserve.