No Jasprit Bumrah and you can sense the seismic effect. It is a team which has all sorts of bowling options, and the only explanation is the management is unsure of the bowling unit. In contrast, they now know the batting is good enough and will hold its own and that’s why, as unfortunate or as disappointing it can be, Jaiswal had to miss out.
Three straight questions come up from the selection. First, how much faith do they have in the pace bowling unit? With five spinners in the side, it is kind of apparent that they expect the spinners to bowl close to 35-plus overs in every game. Also, the pace bowlers will be given opportunities to see who clicks. That’s the kind of indispensability India has on Bumrah.
Unlike the 2023 world cup where Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were all certainties and it was a set unit, the Champions Trophy will be more trial and error. If Shami and Arshdeep Singh don’t click, the team will go to Harshit. Or they might just go with one extra spinner.
Coming to the spin department, it has all kinds of options for Rohit. With Varun Chakaravarthy included, you have Kuldeep Yadav and Varun as attacking options. You have Washington Sundar as the defensive option while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are both almost certainties. Are we carrying one spinner too many?
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How does Washington make the team when you already have Kuldeep, Varun, Jadeja and Axar? While Gautam Gambhir has backed Washington all through, it will be surprising if he gets a game. So far, he hasn’t played in the England series and that should give us an idea of the pecking order.
Coming to the batting, the story is Jaiswal. This is much like Rohit Sharma missing out on the 2011 world cup. He has every reason to feel deflated and disappointed. The fact is he has done nothing wrong. It is only because of the absence of Bumrah and the urge to include extra bowling options that he has had to give up his spot.
The other argument can be that with Rohit back in form, you know for certain that it will be the skipper and Shubman Gill who will open, so Jaiwal wouldn’t really play in any of the three games. Whichever way we see it, this is a selection that will disappoint almost every Indian fan.
Finally to Bumrah, I think it is the right call. Even if he had a chance of joining the tournament late, India can’t take a chance with him. He has to play the IPL for Mumbai Indians and you just don’t want to risk him. A fully fit Bumrah is what India will need going forward and for him every precautionary call is valid.
In all, it isn’t a bad team. Rather, a defensive one where every bowling base has been looked into. Without the leader of the bowling unit, Agarkar and co. have tried to fortify Rohit with all variations on offer. Who all will deliver from the lot will determine India’s journey in Dubai.
Also Read: Bumrah ruled out of the Champions Trophy
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