Former India captain Kapil Dev said that he was puzzled that current skipper Rohit Sharma has not been opening the bowling with ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. India has won both of its matches in the T20 World Cup 2024, defeating Ireland and Pakistan.
Their match against Pakistan was a cliffhanger as India defended 119 runs with Jasprit Bumrah taking 3/14. However, Rohit Sharma had opened the bowling with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, with Bumrah coming in as first change and immediately dismissing Babar Azam.
Kapil Dev asserted that no matter what the conditions are, Bumrah needs to bowl the first over, else the team may risk losing the match.
"The next time I would go and ask the captain this question because to know about their thought process, I'd need to be among them. We can assume from the outside but by whatever amount of cricket I have played or seen, he needs to bowl the first over. He is a wicket-taking bowler. If you make him second or third change or make him bowl the fifth and sixth over, the game can slip out of your hands," Kapil said on ABP News.
Bumrah not using the new ball is nothing new. Even in last year's ODI World Cup, skipper Rohit kept Bumrah with the new ball in a few situations, with Hardik Pandya or Mohammed Siraj opening the bowling.
Kapil lauded Bumrah for the way he has carried himself despite a strong and physically demanding action but also reiterated the importance of Bumrah opening for India.
"We didn't think he would be able to play so much cricket. We felt it would be difficult because of his action and the way he runs, the pressure it puts on his body and shoulders. But he has proved all of us wrong and even proven that by this action itself, I can show become the best bowler in the world. Sometimes you have to pay the price, but if it comes through a loss, it's tough," added Kapil.
"So better to have that positive mindset from the very beginning. This is not a Test match. This is T20. The quicker you take wickets, the more pressure it puts on the opposition. So if Bumrah opens the bowling and picks up a couple of wickets upfront in a two-over spell, then the other team will always struggle. And then life becomes earlier for your other bowlers. Sometimes Bumrah will also get hit but the belief should be to plan with a positive mindset,” Kapil concluded.
India will face the USA on Wednesday and if they win this match, will become the third team after Australia and South Africa to make it into the next round of T20 World Cup 2024.
