Virat Kohli’s go-to man with the ball, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, has looked only half as good as himself since coming back from an injury layoff.
Bumrah, who rose into international fame after match-winning performances at the death, has been found at the back end during the ongoing New Zealand tour.
The fast bowler was taken to the cleaners (0/45 in four overs) in the Hamilton T20I and then also in the Super Over, before his Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma came to the rescue.
Bumrah, unlike his usual self, is yet to open his account in the wicket tally in the ODI series, thus far. Additionally, Bumrah proved to be expensive with figures of 0/53 and 0/64 in the first two ODIs of the 3-match series against New Zealand.
“It must be a cause for concern for India that Jasprit Bumrah, go-to bowler whenever he has needed breakthroughs, has been short of wickets all tour,” penned down VVS Laxman in his column for TOI.
There have been numerous instances in international cricket when Bumrah hit the blockhole consistently and deceived the batsmen in the death overs.
However, Bumrah has found it difficult living up to his reputation of being accurate. As a result, India found it difficult to counter the Kiwis during the back end of the innings.
“Additionally, his lengths too haven’t been spot-on, which means he hasn’t been able to impose usual pressure. Of course, New Zealand’s batsmen have played him well, with Taylor at the forefront,” added Laxman.
As a result, India lost the ODI series 2-0 with one game to go, after comprehensively beating the Black Caps 5-0 in the T20I series.
The win should hold a special place for the Kiwis, who are missing out on some of their ace cricketers, namely Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Matt Henry.
“As delighted as New Zealand must have been at mounting their highest run chase in Hamilton, Saturday’s victory in Auckland that helped them clinch the ODI series will be more satisfying. Already without several key players, they had to grapple with a gastro bug sweeping through their ranks, a sub-par score and a formidable Indian batting line-up, yet such was their desperation to win that they defended 273 quite expertly,” concluded the former Indian Test batsman.
