If Bumrah doesn’t play, we will lose – Mohammed Kaif on India’s chances in the ODI World Cup

Former Indian batter Mohammed Kaif reckons India’s chances of winning the ODI World Cup will diminish if Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t play. Bumrah had played a T20 match for the national team back in September 2022 against Australia and then went on to miss the T20 World Cup due to a back injury.

Bumrah has finally recovered after undergoing knife and he is all set to lead India on the upcoming tour of Ireland, where the team will play three T20Is in Dublin. The selectors want to keep Bumrah’s workload to be minimum and thus have included him in the T20I team before adding him into the 50-overs setup.

There is no doubt that Bumrah is going to hold the key for India in the upcoming home World Cup. Kaif said the team doesn’t have his replacement and his presence will be absolutely vital for the team’s success.

Bumrah has produced great numbers in the ODI version, picking 121 wickets in 72 appearances at an impressive average of 24.31 and an economy rate of 4.64. But it is not going to be a cakewalk for him to hit the ground running at the International level after being out of action for such a long time.

“The players who are injured, India’s chances in the World Cup will depend a lot on that (their comeback). Bumrah is coming now after a long injury lay off and we will get an idea on how fit he is. India need a fully fit Bumrah to do well in World Cup at home,” Kaif was quoted as saying in a PTI report during the launch of Amrit Mathur’s book ‘Pitchside’ on Wednesday, August 2.

“In the bowling department, you can’t have two teams. If Bumrah doesn’t play, we will lose, like we did in Asia Cup T20 and 2022 T20 World Cup. We don’t have his backup,” the 42-year-old added.

In the absence of injured players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul, Kaif feels India is not looking the strongest on paper. As per the current reports, Iyer and Rahul are unlikely to be fit for the Asia Cup.

“At the moment the team is not looking the strongest on paper as it is missing key players including K L Rahul, Pant, Iyer and the biggest factor is Bumrah,” the former batter stated.

The first T20I between India and Ireland will be played at the Village, Dublin on 18th August.