Image Credit- AFP
When you speak with India’s bowling coach Paras
Mhambrey about finally working with a fully functional bowling unit, the sense
of relief is evident. Being able to get Jasprit Bumrah back for the World Cup
is a blessing for India, who have been dealing with an absurd run of injuries
for the better part of three years.
“Ask me about it, man,” Mhambrey, making no
attempt to hide his relief, said, when asked how good it was to finally get the
full band back together. “It has been tough. The last couple of years, it
has been really tough. It is tough to miss [out on] someone like Bumrah. You
have seen him in the last three games that he has played. What he brings to the
table. He is a world-class bowler. He gives you that breakthrough that you
require in the powerplays. He’s well adapted to bowl in the middle overs and
he’s a top, gun death bowler. We really missed him.”
A World Cup without Bumrah was not just a nightmare or
a thought but a distinct reality. Mhambrey credited the medical staff both at
the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and with the team for the return of Bumrah.
“We must credit the staff back at the NCA, the
medical department, the physios out there, and out here as well,” Mhambrey
said. “And they really worked hard behind the scenes for the last few
years, from where he was and to get him out here. So, credit goes to them as
well.”
Mohammed Siraj had the chance to establish himself as
a top-tier ODI bowler while Bumrah was out due to back surgery to repair a
stress fracture. Siraj hasn’t exactly been able to keep up his World Cup form,
but the team management was encouraged by how he changed his length and came
back against Pakistan after giving up 18 runs in his first two overs.
Siraj’s tardiness in responding to the lack of swing
has likely been the one criticism of India’s outstanding effort thus far. India
won’t likely be disturbed by it, though. First of all, since they can have one
bowler go for runs thanks to their strong offence. Second, Siraj started to
make the necessary adjustments to counter Pakistan.
Perhaps more significantly, India’s upcoming slate of
games will take place at the only stadiums where the ball has properly swung
this World Cup. In Dharamsala and Lucknow, two locations where fast bowlers
have enjoyed considerable success, they will play New Zealand and England,
respectively. Even the game versus Bangladesh will take place in Pune, an
outside location without of wind-blocking high stands or roofs.