Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah will be a crucial player for the team in ODI World Cup 2023 and also asserted that India’s consecutive in the T20 cricket is due to the absence of key players in the team. Indian team management tactics came under the scanner following India’s two wickets loss to Men in Maroon on Sunday.
Team India lost the second consecutive game against the Men in Maroon after a poor batting performance in 1st innings at Guyana as none of the batters other than Tilak Varma stood up in the batting department. The Indian bowlers started things off well to defend the total in bowling before Nicholas Pooran took on the bowlers to ease the chase down the 19th over.
Speaking to the media, Mohammad Kaif is not concerned about the two consecutive losses against the West Indies as he feels it unfair to judge a team based on a couple of defeats and highlighted the fact that India is missing their key players in the T20 series against the West Indies.
“India has lost just two matches (T20Is against West Indies), so we do not need to get overly concerned. I am seeing a lot of negative reactions after the two losses. But I will only say that our team is extremely competitive. I am not going to judge (India) on two back-to-back losses (in the West Indies). The only thing is that key players are missing,” Mohammad Kaif said.
West Indies bowled exceedingly well in the 2nd T20I to pick up crucial wickets for the team in the power plays and middle overs to restrict them to 152-7 at the end of the 20 overs and this win will be a massive boost for the team as they will look to build the team for the T20 World Cup next year in home soil and Indian team will look to make a comeback in third T20I to stay alive in the series.
If Jasprit Bumrah Regains Match Fitness, It Will be Massive Gain For Team India – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif feels that Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah is the biggest missing factor in the Indian team across the format and reckons that his recovery from injury would be a massive boost for the team going into the ODI World Cup on home soil and believes that his ability to 50% of the matches on his hand alongside the experienced KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer in the team.
“Bumrah missing is the biggest factor. If he recovers fully one aspect is to complete the recovery and the other aspect is to gain match fitness. If he regains match fitness, it will be a massive gain for Team India. If Bumrah is fully fit, we have a great chance of winning the World Cup at home,” he said.
“I believe, as soon as Bumrah returns fully fit he wins 50 percent of the matches for the Indian team. I think if Bumrah is in the team and a few others like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer also return, we have the players who can win the (World Cup) trophy,” Mohammad Kaif added.
The Speedster’s availability will be crucial for Indian Team in the ODI World Cup 2023, India’s team failed to win a single ICC trophy in the last ten years, despite doing well in the league stage, failing on the important knockout games in the marquee events.