Bumrah holds key to India’s World Cup dream

Bumrah began with a maiden to Harry Tector, working the Irish No. 4 over and seldom allowing him to lay bat on ball

Jasprit Bumrah was an interesting choice for the Player of the Match award following India’s eight-wicket hammering of Ireland on Wednesday.

By the time he came on as first change in the sixth over, Ireland were already in trouble at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, floundering at 26 for two after Arshdeep Singh had rocked them with the twin scalps of openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie in the third over. Arshdeep faded away after that bright beginning, conceding 13 in his third over and 19 in his last on his way to figures of two for 35, though he alone contributed 36.46 per cent of Ireland’s tally of 96.

Bumrah began with a maiden to Harry Tector, working the Irish No. 4 over and seldom allowing him to lay bat on ball. As he stood at the top of his run-up, a buzz of excitement coursed through the audience. They weren’t unaware that they weren’t in the presence of modern-day fast-bowling royalty, and Bumrah didn’t disappoint them with a terrific first over that was notable for the length he slipped into straightaway.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Scotland registers campaign's first win by beating Namibia by 5 wickets

Short one gets Tector 

It was in the fitness of things that Bumrah should end Tector’s tortured stay at the crease—16 deliveries produced a meagre four runs—with a short delivery that climbed on him and lobbed to short cover off glove and helmet as he was late on the pull. It wasn’t quite the quintessential Bumrah dismissal; the quick bowler from Gujarat usually refrains from overdoing the short stuff and this wasn’t a bouncer in the real sense of the term, but it was also a statement that if he sensed that the short ball would be an ally, he wouldn’t be chary of using it.

After a well-earned break following a first spell of 2-1-4-1, Bumrah was summoned back into the attack by Rohit Sharma at the start of the 15th over, once Hardik Pandya had completed an excellent unchanged spell of three for 27. Gareth Delany and Josh Little were in the middle of a pesky little rescue act, hauling their side from 50 for eight to 73 without further damage.

That nasty yorker to Little

Bumrah came up with a trademark searing yorker, fast, full, straight and furious that snuck under Little’s bat and clattered into middle stump. This was the Bumrah the cricket world knew and loved, the Bumrah batters feared, the Bumrah who could unleash the yorker seemingly at will, making it look like the easiest delivery to bowl.

By the time he was done for the day, Bumrah had stacked up figures of 3-1-6-2. Not a bad day’s effort, not a bad way to get into the tournament ahead of the tougher challenges ahead. The unquestioned spearhead of the versatile Indian bowling unit, Bumrah will need to be on top of his game if India are to end their World Cup drought. There is no reason, from what we have seen, why he can’t be.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!