Bumrah's absence will be felt in Champions Trophy, says Dhawan
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has voiced his concerns over the unavailability of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah from the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Bumrah, a crucial player in India's bowling lineup, has been ruled out due to a lower back injury. Harshit Rana will take his place in the squad. Despite this setback, Dhawan remains optimistic about India's performance in the tournament. Here's more.
Player impact
Bumrah's accuracy is hard to replicate, says Dhawan
Dhawan highlighted Bumrah's distinctive bowling style and calmness under pressure as invaluable assets in big ICC tournaments. "For me, he is the best bowler in the world, and his accuracy is hard to replicate. He is also a very calm character, which is crucial in a big ICC event like this," he stated, as per ICC. Although he admitted that Bumrah's absence will be a huge blow to the Indian team, Dhawan was confident about their overall performance.
Stats
Bumrah's ODI numbers at a glance
The star pacer owns 149 scalps across 89 ODIs, (88 innings). He averages 23.55, and boats an economy rate of 4.59. Additionally, he also owns six four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, alongside his best bowling inning of 6/19 (vs England). Notably, he was also the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 20 scalps in 11 games (AVG: 18.65, ER: 4.06). Meanwhile, the last time he played an ODI was during the 2023 World Cup.
New talent
Dhawan optimistic about Rana's potential
Dhawan was optimistic about Rana, Bumrah's replacement in the squad. "Harshit Rana's inclusion is exciting — keep an eye on him, he could have a breakout tournament. I like his attitude; he's a go-getter who isn't afraid of challenges. We saw in the England series that he is in good form. If he seizes this opportunity, he could provide a real x-factor for India," Dhawan noted. The young pacer recently made his white-ball debut against England.
Team strength
Dhawan praises Indian batting lineup
Dhawan also lauded the strong form of Indian batters, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill. He emphasized their consistency and experience as key factors in India's potential success in the tournament. "Rohit Sharma has regained form, Virat Kohli is there—it's a top side that will be tough to stop," Dhawan said.