Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has voiced his opinion on who should replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s lineup for the upcoming Champions Trophy. While India has already brought in Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement, Ponting believes that Arshdeep Singh is the more fitting choice to take charge of the bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence.
Bumrah’s injury has created a significant hole in India’s bowling lineup, raising worries about who will lead the team as they attempt to secure ODI silverware after a long wait. The star bowler has been ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury he suffered during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.
India handed Harshit Rana his ODI debut in the latest series against England, but he faced challenges with the new ball. Although he showed improvement in later overs, Ponting raised concerns about Harshit’s early over control and seemed to favor Arshdeep for the crucial role.
“I would pick the left-arm bowler, Arshdeep, to replace Bumrah. He has shown his abilities in T20 cricket, and he possesses skills similar to Bumrah’s, both with the new ball and at the death overs. That’s something India will miss,” Ponting stated during an appearance on The ICC Review.
The former player emphasized that Harshit has considerable talent, but he believes Arshdeep is more adept in pressure situations, especially during crunch moments in tournaments where left-arm variation can make a difference.
Harshit’s record shows promise; he has taken three wickets in his debut matches across all formats, including impressive figures in Tests and T20Is. However, his tendency to concede runs during the powerplay could pose a challenge for India against tougher teams in the Champions Trophy.
Arshdeep, in contrast, has already made a mark in his limited ODI experience, showcasing his talent with a solid performance of 2/33 against England in Ahmedabad. His abilities in swinging the ball and executing effective yorkers make him a strong candidate to fill in for Bumrah.
As India evaluates its options, they also have experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who shone during the 2023 ODI World Cup but is still working towards full fitness following injury. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is anticipated to contribute with the ball in the middle overs. The decision on who will replace Bumrah ultimately lies with head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma.
