T20 World Cup: Bumrah and Jadeja's absence opens opportunity to unearth new champions, says Shastri

Ravindra Jadeja at the T20 World Cup will affect the team but it also opens up an opportunity to "unearth a new champion". Both Bumrah and Jadeja will miss the showpiece event Down Under later this month owing to injuries. While Jadeja was ruled out due to a knee injury, a back injury has put Bumrah out of contention for the World Cup, dealing a major blow to India's chances at the marquee event.

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Going by India head coach Rahul Dravid's word on Tuesday night, it's clear that he and the selectors are keen on replacing ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out from the T20 World Cup due to a back injury, with Mohammed Shami for the mega tournament, provided the experienced pacer has

"Bumrah not being there, Jadeja not being there - it hampers the side - but it's an opportunity to unearth a new champion," Shastri said at the launch of Coaching Beyond, his new initiative with B Arun and R Sridhar. "(Bumrah's injury) is unfortunate. There's so much cricket being played, and people get injured. He is injured, but it's an opportunity for somebody else. There is nothing you can do with injury," he added. While a replacement for Bumrah has not been named yet, head coach Rahul Dravid has indicated Mohammad Shami could replace his teammate if he gains full fitness after recovering from COVID-19. Shami, who is on the stand-by list for the ICC event alongside Deepak Chahar, hasn't played competitive cricket since July and was forced to miss the six home games against Australia and South Africa after contracting COVID-19.

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