Two players who made their international debut within a year of each other quickly became India’s most exciting cricketers.
With his fearless gameplay, Rishabh Pant became a favorite amongst audiences worldwide. With his unique technique, speed, and control, Jasprit Bumrah quickly became the frontman of India’s bowling attack. Both are now on the path to making a comeback. It’s worth noting that the betting company Mostbet UZ accepts bets on all official cricket competitions.
Pant and Bumrah missed a significant period of time
Pant, aged 25, was involved in a severe road accident last December. His rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, where he recently batted and practiced wicket-keeping, is said to be “going better than expected” by those who have observed his recovery.
Bumrah, 29, who missed almost a year of cricket due to a back injury, returned as captain and frontman in the series against Ireland. It seems he has slightly extended the length of his run-up and bowled within his limits, but continues to hope for a return to white-ball cricket – which is currently a priority for the Indian team with the upcoming Asia Cup scheduled for October.
Such matters should not be rushed. Former chief selector Chetan Sharma once commented that Bumrah might have been brought into the game too soon after his injury when he bowled in the T20 against Australia. This also underscores the need for proper rest and rehabilitation and the importance of listening to one’s body’s responses. Often, senior cricketers tend to overlook medical advice, which can be costly.
Bumra returns and immediately demonstrates his importance
Bumra’s comeback against Ireland was dramatic, with two wickets taken in his first over. It all started with Andrew Balbirnie’s boundary. Bumra walked away with a sarcastic smile, then delivered a throw that bounced and knocked off the stumps. It was clocked at 129 km/h (80 mph), but when you have such control, speed doesn’t matter. He rarely exceeded the 140 km/h mark.
When he caught Lorcan Tucker, he had done enough to earn the “Man of the Match” award on his return. No one asked him, “Who writes your scripts?”, but the question hung in the air.
Bumra’s return against Australia, which ruled him out of last year’s T20 World Cup, is fresh in everyone’s memory. Top players often take risks because they’d rather play than rest. Playing while less than fully fit leads to some of the most romantic stories in sports.
Bumra, with his unorthodox bowling technique that strains the back, might have to compromise as his career progresses, reducing speed and working on his bag of tricks, which includes yorkers, slow deliveries, seven-ball overs, cutters, and a couple of surprises.
Bumra, being a wicket-taker, is perhaps more valuable to the Indian team, and for bowlers in general. India has a host of batsmen who can replace each other, but Bumra is unique as a bowler.
Workload must be limited
Given the backdrop of his injury and encouraging signs in Ireland, Bumra is ready to challenge the more accomplished batsmen. But there are some ifs and buts. He isn’t expected to bowl full throttle for an extended period (Indian captains tend to over-bowl their main bowlers), but he also can’t be made to play too many matches in a row. Precious talents require delicate handling.
The load on Bumra gradually increased during his rehabilitation. He was preparing not just for the T20 match, but as he mentioned, “I was preparing to bowl 10 overs for the World Cup. I bowled 10, 12, even 15 overs. I bowled more overs, so it’s easier for me to bowl less than required.”
