In Jasprit Bumrah's absence, other bowlers need to step up: Saba Karim says death-over bowling won't be easy
India Today
Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim said that India's death-over bowling won't be an easy job. He added other bowlers need to step up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He also named some viable options for the task.
Former India cricketer Saba Karim said that other bowlers need to step up in death overs at the T20 World Cup in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah sustained a back injury and is currently under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team, the Indian cricket board said on Friday. Bumrah has also been replaced by Mohammed Siraj in the T20I squad for the ongoing series against South Africa. The Indian speedster is likely to miss the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.
The absence of Bumrah comes as a major blow for India, especially in the death-over bowling department. The former selector, Saba Karim, said that bowling in death overs won't be easy but India do have the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh.
"Yeah, it does. With the new ball, you do have some viable options. You have Bhuvneshwar Kumar, now what we saw in the last game, Arshdeep Singh can step up. We also have someone like Mohammed Shami," Karim said on SPORTS18's daily sports news show 'SPORTS OVER THE TOP'.
"But to bowl in the death overs especially under pressure, you need someone who’s aware of his abilities and he bowls according to that. So, in that sense, without Jasprit Bumrah, the other bowlers they really need to step up and do the job for India. That may not be so easy."
There have been concerns over Bhuvneshwar's death-over bowling as he conceded a lot of runs in the last part of the innings.
During the recently concluded Asia Cup, Bhuvneshwar leaked 19 runs in the penultimate over against Pakistan and Sri Lanka each which eventually cost India matches. Arshdeep, on the other hand, is new to the role on an international platform but has been impressive in his recent death-over bowling.
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