Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Jasprit Bumrah for his impressive performances with the ball in Asia Cup 2023, stating that it didn’t seem like he was returning after a prolonged injury layoff. However, Bumrah returned to competitive cricket in the T20I series against Ireland after a long layoff due to a back injury. He then did well in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, scalping four wickets at an economy rate of 4.17 in the 17 overs he bowled as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “We were thinking about whether Jasprit Bumrah would be able to bowl 10 overs. He didn’t need to bowl 10 overs many times but however much he bowled, he did it amazingly well. He has been absolutely outstanding. It didn’t look like he was coming back from injury. It didn’t look like he was struggling. The ball was coming out nicely from his hand, he was swinging it both ways, the pace, rhythm and variations were good. So you say that Bumrah is back, that looks good.”
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However, Aakash Chopra also added that Kuldeep Yadav’s match-defining performances in the Asia Cup have put to rest the questions about Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence from India’s provisional World Cup squad as well.
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“India’s World Cup team was also announced during this tournament. Yuzvendra Chahal’s name is not there in that. So all of us were worried about whether Kuldeep Yadav would do the job alone. The way he bowled, the Player of the Tournament, he said he can do it and that he will manage. So Kuldeep Yadav, another huge tick mark. Mohammed Shami didn’t get that many opportunities but Mohammed Siraj showed that he is the leader of the pack. Of course, Bumrah is this team’s bowling captain, but he (Siraj) showed that the day you give him the opportunity, he does not lag behind anyone,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
