Nearly a year since his unexpected departure from the field, the anticipation surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s return is palpable. Leading the Indian side against Ireland, the spotlight is firmly on the fast bowler’s fitness and form, as the three-match T20 International series kicks off on Friday.
Within the Indian squad, a new wave of IPL-performing talents, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma, adds a layer of excitement. Yet, amid this burgeoning talent, the eyes of Indian cricket stakeholders are fixated on Bumrah. His performance will be pivotal to the national team’s preparations for the impending ODI World Cup, scheduled less than two months away.
The journey back for the 29-year-old Bumrah follows a surgery to mend the lower-back stress fractures he incurred during a home series against Australia prior to last year’s T20 World Cup. While the series against Ireland will have him bowling a maximum of just 12 overs over five days, it provides a crucial opportunity for selectors Ajit Agarkar, ODI captain Rohit Sharma, and head coach Rahul Dravid to gauge his match fitness.
The demands of 50-over cricket are a different challenge altogether, with Bumrah expected to deliver 10 overs in spells of two, three, or potentially four overs. The BCCI’s release of Bumrah’s bowling video on social media showcases his skill, with glimpses of his trademark pace and variations.
However, the true test lies in match situations, a lesson learned from a prior instance when both Dravid and Rohit rushed Bumrah’s return ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia, leading to unfavorable results. This series marks Bumrah’s re-entry into international cricket after the longest hiatus of his seven-year career, a period punctuated by a last-minute withdrawal for a home series earlier this year due to a career-threatening injury that necessitated surgery.
Ireland’s team, captained by Andrew Balbirnie and comprising valuable players like Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, and left-arm spinner George Dockrell, presents a formidable challenge in the T20 format, even though they have yet to secure a victory against India.
For Bumrah, the Ireland series offers a dual opportunity: to regain match fitness and readiness for the upcoming Asia Cup, where he’ll face competitors like Babar Azam on September 2. Ireland’s left-arm seamer Josh Little, a crucial figure in the Gujarat Titans squad, is eager to display his abilities against a talented Indian lineup.
With the exception of Bumrah and Sanju Samson, the rest of the Indian squad eyes the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. As the team rallies, all eyes are on Sanju Samson, whose position remains uncertain. Among the noteworthy talents, Jitesh and Rinku are poised to earn their T20 India caps, while Shivam Dube aims for redemption. Notably, Prasidh Krishna also stages a comeback after overcoming a lower back stress fracture injury and surgery, with selectors closely evaluating his form ahead of the impending Asia Cup squad announcement.
Balancing individual aspirations with team objectives adds intrigue to the narrative. As the squads, brimming with promise, prepare to clash, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates a series that bridges the present with the future.
Squads:
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- India: Jasprit Bumrah (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
- Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Ben White, Craig Young, Theo van Weorkom.
– Match Starts: 7:30 pm IST.