(Source X)
India will face defending champions England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday. The match is expected to be a thrilling cricketing spectacle, showcasing top talent from both teams.
Ahead of this pivotal clash, former Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth commended India’s key pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting his exceptional performances not only in the current tournament but also over recent years. Sreesanth lauded Bumrah’s precision in executing his well-defined strategies on the field.
“All I can say is the way Bumrah bowls, whenever he gets an opportunity to bowl, he’s got that plan and he executes those plans really well. If you look at his deliveries, he bowls in front of his head, which is an awkward action, making it very difficult to pick up,”
Sreesanth went on to describe Bumrah as the X-factor, capable of decisively influencing the outcome of the match on his own.
“The England players have faced him, but when it comes to critical situations, maybe that is one mantra to learn—that Bumrah is going to be a big difference when it comes to winning or losing,” he said.
“Those four overs, those 24 balls, how the England team deals with them will matter,” the 41-year-old added.
Sreesanth also commented on Arshdeep Singh’s impactful performance in the tournament, noting his success in taking wickets. He elaborated on the depth and strength of India’s bowling resources, emphasizing the formidable arsenal available to the team.
“The best thing with Bumrah is the bowling partnership with Arshdeep. Even Arshdeep is taking wickets. When someone is trying to see off Bumrah, there is a possibility that Arshdeep will take a wicket, not just because he’s bowling okay, but because he’s bowling brilliantly,” he continued.
“If you’re trying to see off Arshdeep, there comes Hardik Pandya. He can surprise you with those bouncers. And then we have Kuldeep (Yadav), Axar (Patel) and (Ravindra) Jadeja. So it’s a brilliant bowling attack to win the World Cup,” he said.
The former seamer highlighted Bumrah’s commanding presence and drew comparisons to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who could motivate teammates and intimidate opponents purely through his aura.
“And one more thing I want to say, when Bumrah comes in, not a single batsman actually wants to go after him, especially in a knockout game,” he continued.
“That’s the presence of Bumrah in the team; even if he doesn’t move, it’s like Sachin Tendulkar when he used to play and stand in the mid-off. That’s the kind of inspiration other bowlers are getting from Bumrah’s presence; it is unbelievable,” the seamer said.
The Kerala native also discussed skipper Rohit Sharma’s leadership qualities and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team to clinch the prestigious title.
“Rohit Sharma has all the capabilities of a winning captain. He’s got that experience, so I don’t see any reason why he can’t go all the way and win the World Cup,” the pacer said.
Sreesanth highlighted Rohit’s skill in forming personal connections with his players and attributed this ability as a key factor in his leadership.
“We spoke about Rashid Khan and how, with brotherhood, he has kept the team as a unit. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has also done it many times in franchise cricket. He knows every player individually,” he added.
He also emphasized the impact that all-rounder Hardik Pandya has on the team, drawing parallels to the contributions legendary Yuvraj Singh made during his prime.
“Despite the speculations going on throughout the week, in the last press conference, he spoke about Hardik Pandya being a key player in the team. Just like Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup as an all-rounder with bat, ball, and fielding, I think Hardik Pandya is very much capable of doing that in this World Cup,” he continued.
“We wouldn’t be surprised if Rohit Sharma lifts that trophy,” Sreesanth signed off.
