USA vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah not getting enough respect? Sunil Gavaskar tears apart Rohit Sharma for mishandling pacer

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized Rohit Sharma's decision not to bowl Jasprit Bumrah in the first over during India's victory against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Sunil Gavaskar stated that Bumrah should have opened the bowling attack in the highly anticipated match of the World Cup.

The Men in Blue scored 119 runs in 19 overs after losing the toss at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. Jasprit Bumrah played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan to 113 runs in 20 overs. Bumrah was named "Player of the Match" for his outstanding bowling performance.

Jasprit Bumrah Should Have Bowled The First Over - Sunil Gavaskar

Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar suggested that Jasprit Bumrah could have been utilized more effectively. Gavaskar questioned why Bumrah didn't bowl the first over, stating that the best bowler should get to bowl the first ball.

"The bowlers very seldom get credit in Indian cricket. So it was good to see the way they came back. Again, I thought maybe Bumrah should have bowled the first over, not the third over. Why waste 12 deliveries? Give it to your best bowler," Gavaskar said.

"Do you ask Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bat at five or six? They are your best batters, so they bat one and two. The best bowler gets to bowl first ball if he is a fast bowler. However, whatever it is, India kept their nerve and won the game and that is the most important thing because I think Pakistan lost their nerve despite being 57/1 at the halfway stage," he added.

Bumrah came to bowl in the third over and provided an early breakthrough for India in his second over. Bumrah dismissed Babar Azam, who scored 13 runs off 10 balls, including two fours. He struck again in his second spell, getting the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan on the first ball. Rizwan scored 31 runs off 44 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah took the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed on the final ball of his last over. The 30-year-old pacer concluded his spell with three wickets for 14 runs in his four-over quota. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh conceded 11 runs and dismissed all-rounder Imad Wasim in the final over while defending the target.

The Bowlers Save The Batters - Sunil Gavaskar

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that India's bowlers played a pivotal role in rescuing the team after a subpar batting performance. Sunil Gavaskar criticized the batting approach, describing it as "arrogant" and "reckless". He stated that the batters played unnecessary shots in the match.

"I think the bowlers saved the batters because the way they batted, and I said it at the halfway stage, the batting was a bit arrogant and a bit reckless as well. They kept on playing shots when there was really no need," Gavaskar further added.

India scored 81 runs for the loss of three wickets, but they managed only 38 runs and lost seven wickets in the next nine overs. Rishabh Pant emerged as the top scorer for India with 42 runs off 31 deliveries, including six boundaries. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh scored seven and nine runs, respectively.

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