Former India player Mohammad Kaif said that the Indian team will lose the 2023 World Cup at home if lead pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah is not fit. He further added that India do not have the resources to field two teams because they didn’t have many options in the bowling department. Notably, Bumrah has not played any game since September 2022. He underwent back surgery earlier this year and he has been recovering well for the past few months.

“The players who are injured, India’s chances in the World Cup will depend a lot on that (their comeback). Bumrah is coming now after a long injury lay off and we will get an idea on how fit he is. India need a fully fit Bumrah to do well in World Cup at home,” he was quoted as saying in a PTI report during the launch of Amrit Mathur’s book ‘Pitchside’ on Wednesday, August 2.”In the bowling department, you can’t have two teams. If Bumrah doesn’t play, we will lose, like we did in Asia Cup T20 and 2022 T20 World Cup. We don’t have his back up.”

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In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Team India managed to reach the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, they struggled in the knockout match against England and were lost by 10 wickets. Barring him, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant are also out of action.

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“At the moment the team is not looking the strongest on paper as it is missing key players including K L Rahul, Pant, Iyer and the biggest factor is Bumrah,” he concluded.