As the T20 World Cup 2022 is approaching, many experts of the game have started making predictions regarding what could be the combination of different teams for the global showpiece event. Recently, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has named his ideal playing XI of Team India for the upcoming multi-team competition, which is set to take place in Australia from October 16 to November 13.
Following the trend, another ex-India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has shared his thoughts in the context of the seam bowling options of the ‘Men in Blue’ for T20 World Cup 2022. Jaffer has picked three seamers who, according to him, will be the first picks in the India squad for the 20-over tournament.
The cricketer-turned-analyst reckoned that Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel would be the first two names, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar would come in as the third seamer. Jaffer observed that the way Bhuvneshwar has bowled in the recently-concluded 5-match T20I series against South Africa, the right-armer has confirmed his place in the India squad.
Bhuvi was outstanding against the Proteas in the T20I battle. He was named ‘Player of the Series’ for his disciplined and breathtaking bowling display. Bhuvneshwar bowled as many as 14 overs in the series, conceding runs at an economy of just above six and picking up a total of six wickets. Notably, this was Bhuvneshwar’s fourth player of the series award as he became the first Indian pacer to win four MOS awards surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, both of whom have won three times.
“I would say, probably the way Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar) bowled throughout the series, I think he kind of confirmed himself as the third seamer, in my opinion,” said Jaffer during an interaction on ESPNCricinfo.
“With (Jasprit) Bumrah and Harshal Patel being the first two in my book. Bhuvi is surely one of those guys as a third seamer, in my opinion,” added Jaffer.
