Former England captain Michael Atherton has said that India will definitely miss Jasprit Bumrah’s services at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. However, Atherton also said that India will plan their strategy well amid his absence as they are going to bat aggressively. However, Bumrah will miss the tournament Down Under due to a back injury, with Mohammad Shami replacing him in the squad. He also missed the 2022 Asia Cup as well.
As quoted by Sky Sports, Atherton stated: “Bumrah will be a big miss for India but you can’t discount them with the strength of their batting and. I think they will be forced to go a bit harder with the bat in Bumrah’s absence. It should clear their mind and strategy.”
However, the veteran named Australia as a firm favourite and again stated that Tim David’s inclusion in the team has made them even stronger as well.
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“You must think Australia would have a strong chance on home turf and they look a bit stronger than last year. They are a more developed side and Tim David’s likely inclusion gives them a bit more power. Their players know the conditions and they tend to be quite difficult to beat at home so I expect them to give a good account of themselves. As hosts and defending champions, they are the side to beat,” Michael Atherton again added.
While Australia are the hosts and defending champions, they have been going through a lean patch build-up to the tournament. They lost the T20I series to England and the warm-up game to India as well. Atherton also feels that Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will trouble the opponents as well.
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“There are one or two big names missing unfortunately in Bumrah and one of my favourite players, West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer, who didn’t make his plane! The tournament could be a real springboard for Suryakumar and bowling-wise it is Shaheen. When he is steaming in with ball in hand and has plenty of support behind him, which there is sure to be in that opening game against India on Sunday, it is great theatre. There is no more thrilling sight in the game than a fast bowler looking to take wickets with the new ball,” Michael Atherton concluded.
