India vs Australia, 2nd T20I: Team India looks to solve Bumrah mystery amid death bowling woes

22.09.2022 - 10:39 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bumrah, who has been out of action since the end of England tour, skipped the Asia Cup due to back injury. However, to everyone's surprise, the team management didn't play him during the high-scoring first T20I in Mohali, raising doubts whether he has still attained peak fitness or not.

To compound the team's worries, the 'three-and-a-half' pronged pace attack, including Hardik Pandya, conceded 150 runs in 14 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the seasoned pro, has already been taken to cleaners. He has leaked 49 runs in the three penultimate overs (19th) that he bowled against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.

Read AlsoOut of form Bhuvneshwar Kumar a major worry for Team IndiaOn August 28, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4-26 to play a key role in India's thrilling five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup at Dubai, few thought that, with just a month left before their 2022 T20 World Cup opener against the same opponents, India's sole 'T20 specialist' bowler In this backdrop, a fit and fiery Bumrah is a pre-requisite for India as the home bowlers are increasingly being found out on batting belters.

bowling Asia Cup Yuzvendra Chahal Bhuvneshwar Kumar Axar Patel Australia India Dubai Sri Lanka Pakistan

Read more on the timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India are under pressure to win their first global title since 2013 at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia but they must do so without injured pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

"Have Started To Give Pakistan Respect Of Late": PCB Chief Ramiz Raja On Team India

The world is eagerly waiting for the T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23. The anticipation for this match has been so intense that the game got sold out a month prior in advance of the tournament starting. Off late, Pakistan have give some memorable performances against India and they even broke the World Cup jinx against India by defeating them in the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE.

Five Major Concerns For Team India Heading Into The T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma-led Team India might have won the T20I series against Australia and South Africa on home soil, however, there are some big concerns as the team gears up to take part in the T20 World Cup in Australia. If the side wants to win the marquee event, all three departments of the game need to work in unison, which has not happened for Rohit Sharma and co off late. Death bowling has emerged as one of the biggest concerns for the side, and with Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the tournament, one does not know how the side can fix the problem that is quickly turning out to be their achilles' heel.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: Team India grapple with Jasprit Bumrah riddle as it chases rare series win against South Africa

From the tranquility of Thiruvananthapuram, the Team India atmosphere, suddenly, wears a chaotic look -- much like the traffic of Guwahati, thrown out of gear in the midst of Durga Puja rush and construction of flyovers. Bumrah was expected to play a key role in Indian team's campaign in the Australian conditions but his "back stress fracture" has ruled him out of the ICC flagship event, starting in three weeks' time. The ongoing series was originally planned as the final tune-up for Rahul Dravid's team but Bumrah's absence from the remaining two T20Is has now thrown more questions than answers. Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj have been added to the squad as injury replacements but they do not figure in the World Cup-bound squad, as of now.

India Look To Address Death Bowling Concerns In Final Tune-Up Ahead Of T20 World Cup

India will be looking to round off their T20 World Cup preparation with a marked improvement in their death bowling besides providing crucial game time to its untested players in the three-match series against South Africa, beginning here on Wednesday. India skipper Rohit Sharma, expectedly, singled out death bowling as an area that requires improvement following the series win over Australia. The hosts will be without two of their key bowlers, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have been rested ahead of the ICC event next month.

India vs South Africa: India look to address death bowling concerns in final tune up ahead of T20 WC

India skipper Rohit Sharma, expectedly, singled out death bowling as an area that requires improvement following the series win over Australia.