"No Like-For-Like Replacement For Jasprit Bumrah In The World": Shane Watson To NDTV

Former Australia star Shane Watson is regarded as one of the best all-rounders to ever play the game and in a career spanning, 207 international games, Watson took 291 wickets and he also scored 10,950 runs. The 41-year-old is currently in India to play the Legends League Cricket, and on the sidelines of the ongoing event, Watson spoke to NDTV about whether India's chances at the T20 World Cup will be hampered if Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out due to injury and the form of Virat Kohli.

Team India's preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup received a major jolt as Bumrah was ruled out of the ongoing three-match T20I series against South Africa. It is not clear whether Bumrah would be available for the T20 World Cup, which is slated to begin on October 16.

"If Jasprit Bumrah is not fit and not playing at this World Cup, then it would make it all the more difficult for Team India to win because Bumrah is as good as an attacking bowler and as defensive bowler as anyone in the world, let alone for India. He has got an incredible skill, it will be a huge loss," said Watson.

"There is no like-for-like replacement for Bumrah in the world, leave alone India. It is going to be very hard to find those defensive bowlers in trying to close the game when they are bowling last or close out an innings as well. That is going to be the real challenge. Some of the fast bowlers will be needed to step up and raise their hand, if India wants to get into the back end of the tournament," he added.

Virat Kohli, who now has 71 international centuries, went through a lean run, in terms of registering the three-figure mark. Before breaking the dry spell during the Asia Cup, Kohli had last scored a ton in November 2019 against Bangladesh in a