Bumrah's Absence Opens Doors for 'World-Class' Shami: Gambhir
Former India cricketer and coach Gautam Gambhir believes Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the upcoming Champions Trophy presents a golden opportunity for 'world-class' Mohammed Shami and other fast bowlers to step up.
Bumrah was ruled out of the 50-over tournament, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai, due to a lower back injury. His absence is a major setback for India’s campaign, but Gambhir remains optimistic about the team’s pace attack.
“If he’s injured, he’s injured. Whether it’s me, the captain, or anyone else, we can’t do much about it”, Gambhir told reporters. “We know he’s crucial, but this is a great opportunity for players like Harshit (Rana), Arshdeep (Singh), and Mohammed Shami to step up and deliver for the country”.
India, currently ranked No. 1 in ODI cricket, recently dominated England with a 3-0 series sweep, winning the final match by 142 runs. However, discussions about Bumrah’s injury overshadowed the team’s triumph in Ahmedabad.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana impressed in his ODI debut series, taking six wickets in three matches. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets in his only outing in the final match. However, Shami’s return has significantly bolstered India’s morale ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The 34-year-old pacer recovered from a heel injury to make his comeback in the T20 series after taking a break following India’s 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia. Gambhir emphasized the impact of Shami’s experience and skill.
“It’s always good to have a world-class bowler back”, he said. “With his experience and quality, we know what he can do with the ball".
Shami played two T20s and two ODIs in the recent series, picking up five wickets while maintaining impressive pace and precision.
“We were managing his workload carefully”, Gambhir added. “That’s why he played only a few games. Hopefully, he will be fresh and ready for the Champions Trophy”.
India will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before facing arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.
