“Without Bumrah, India’s bowling is zero” – Junaid Khan slams Men in Blue after ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka

Former Pakistan fast bowler Junaid Khan slammed India after their ODI series loss against Sri Lanka. India suffered an ODI series defeat against the Island country after a long gap of 27 years. Khan believes without Jasprit Bumrah, India’s bowling is zero.

Bumrah was rested for the tour of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka after India won the T20 World Cup. The gun fast bowler was sensational in the T20I showpiece, picking 15 wickets in eight matches at a stunning average of 8.27 and parsiminious economy rate of 4.18.

On the other hand, the Indian spinners Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav failed to make the most of the favourable conditions on offer in the ODI series against the hosts. The trio bagged 13 wickets among them in three games.

Junaid Khan wrote on his X account, “Would you agree? Without Bumrah, india’s bowling is zero… #INDvSL #SLVSIND.”

Meanwhile, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels Indian bowlers were complacent in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which the visitors lost by a huge margin of 110 runs.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “We weren’t able to close out the innings with the ball. There seemed a sense of complacency that we would get the wickets anyway and if we don’t get the wickets we will chase the runs anyway. The ruthlessness was missing.”

Meanwhile, India’s middle-order batting was not up to the mark and the batters struggle against the spinners was evident on helpful decks.

Chopra added, “I think we outbat the opposition and play spin really well on flat wickets. Out bowlers also bowl better than theirs on such pitches. However, when the pitches begin to turn, our batting becomes ordinary and the gap in the quality of bowling is reduced. So this is a problem they need to address.”

India will next host Bangladesh for two Test matches and three T20Is.