ENG vs IND 2018: Jasprit Bumrah's Absence a Problem for India - Sunil Gavaskar

Team India’s tour of England is all set to commence later on Wednesday. The Men in Blue will lock horns against England in a three-match T20I series starting at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Before the start of the England tour, India played a couple of T20I’s in Ireland and ended up winning the series 2-0. The injury sustained to Jasprit Bumrah in Dublin ruled him out of the limited-overs series against England.

Bumrah has been a champion bowler for India, and hence, his absence might well prove to be a big problem for the visitors.

Gavaskar in his column for the Times of India said Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah had become one of the best pairs in the world. In the absence of Bumrah, Umesh Yadav is likely to replace him in the playing XI.

Siddharth Kaul will also be there in the team. Kohli will be playing with Kaul in the Indian team after 2008 when Kohli led India U-19 team to the World Cup title in Malaysia.

Bumrah’s absence will be a problem

“India has a problem as Bumrah has been ruled out for the T20 series. He and Bhuvneshwar Kumar make a potent pair, be it at the start of the innings or when bowling in the final overs. 

Umesh Yadav, his most likely replacement, had a magnificent IPL and bowled quick against Ireland. The two spinners Yuzuvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will once again be the key, and if they can choke up the runs in the middle overs, England can be restricted too.”

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Gavaskar went on to state the hosts are a dangerous side especially in the limited-overs format and have a strong squad which can challenge India any day.

England was on the verge of winning the T20I World Cup in India a couple of years ago. However, it was Carlos Brathwaite who ended their dreams with four sixes in the final over of the finale.

“England, of course, will be a different kettle of fish as they have a much better team and players who have played loads of T20 cricket all over the world.”

“Remember also that England were the runners-up in the ICC World T20 couple of years back and was only denied the title because of the ferocious hitting of Carlos Brathwaite that took the West Indies home.”

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