In what is a piece of good news for Team India, their two injured pacers – Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel – have passed their fitness tests and are will be available for selection for the T20 World Cup 2022 slated for mid-October in Australia.
Both Bumrah and Harshal missed the Asia Cup 2022 campaign due to back injury and side strain respectively. India missed their services dearly in the defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka that meant failure to qualify for the final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled poorly in the death in those two losses, the 19th overs which Bumrah or even Harshal would have done better in. Hardik Pandya played as the third pacer in both those matches and was expensive, highlighting that he can not be banked upon as a four-over bowler regularly.
India’s bowling will be strengthened with return of Bumrah and Harshal
Cricbuzz has learnt that the two seamers have regained their full fitness and bowled normally at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru recently.
When the BCCI named the squad for the Asia Cup 2022, they said that Bumrah and Harshal are in rehab at the NCA; according to Cricbuzz, they have completed their rehab. This means that Rohit Sharma might have the services of one or both of these star pacers for the upcoming home T20I series against Australia, starting September 20, followed by South Africa, before India fly out to Australia for the world event.
Big selection conundrum for selectors
With their return certain for the T20 World Cup, the selectors will have to make way for them; from the Asia Cup of 15 that was picked initially to start the tournament, Avesh Khan will make way while an axe could fall on either R Ashwin or Ravi Bishnoi with Arshdeep expected to retain his place after a good showing in his short international career so far.
Ravindra Jadeja recently underwent a knee surgery and will miss the T20 World Cup. Axar Patel, who later replaced Jadeja in the Asia Cup, is expected to be selected in the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup. India could, however, drop him and retain Ravi Bishnoi or R Ashwin when Bumrah and Harshal come back. The need for having Deepak Hooda in the 15-man squad will also be a point to discuss for the selectors.
The selection committee meeting is likely to take place by September 15.
