T20 World Cup: They want Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to lead India’s bowling attack, says former India Star

Former Indian cricketer Rahul Sharma wants Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to lead the Indian bowling attack in the upcoming T2O World Cup in the USA and West Indies, with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. The much-anticipated 2024 T20 World Cup is set to begin on Sunday (according to IST), with co-hosts the United States taking on Canada in the tournament opener in Texas. India will face Ireland in the opening match of the T20 World Cup in New York on June 5 before the high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9.

The Indian team includes four spinners (Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel) and three pacers with two all-rounders. Chahal is returning to the Indian team after July 2023 and was in great form in IPL 2024. With slow and spinning pitches in the US, Sharma thought that Jadeja along with Kuldeep would be a much better option than Axar and Chahal.

“We don’t know how the pitches in the US will behave, but as far as I know the conditions there and some of the reports that are coming in, I will field Kuldeep Yadav along with the experienced Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department and I will want Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to lead the Indian bowling attack,” Rahul Sharma told IANS at the inaugural Team India Champions event.

“With four bowling options, and Hardik Pandya or Shivam Dube as the all-rounder and fifth bowling option, the Indian team will look balanced and it will be easy for captain Rohit Sharma to use the bowlers,” he added.

When asked who he would like to see as a finisher for the Indian team, Rahul Sharma said, “Seeing the way Shivam Dube batted in this edition of the IPL, especially against spinners, it was amazing to see and also, he can be used as a bowler as well. He dominated the spinners, batted sensibly against the pacers and didn’t look like he was in trouble. “So, for me, he should be given the responsibility to finish games. And we also have Rishabh Pant in the middle, who has the ability to change the match at any time, so I don’t think there is any worry in the bowling department, and I hope they dominate.”

India will face Bangladesh in a friendly on Saturday at the newly built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in the US, which is scheduled to host eight matches of the main tournament, including three of India’s games. The much-awaited India-Pakistan clash, scheduled for June 9, will also be held at this venue.

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