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How Can India Weave Magic In Champions Trophy Without Jasprit Bumrah's Midas Touch?

Debashis Sarangi

Jasprit Bumrah will likely miss initial Champions Trophy matches [Source: @HBJ3221/X]Jasprit Bumrah will likely miss initial Champions Trophy matches [Source: @HBJ3221/X]

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies but in battalions."  

William Shakespere's famous quote from the evergreen Hamlet interestingly finds life even after five centuries of its birth. Indeed, it pours down when it rains, and with Jasprit Bumrah sustaining another back injury, India are on the verge of losing their unbreakable shield at a time when they are seeking redemption after a horrible Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. 

It won't be wrong to say that the night of June 29 is one of the most memorable nights in the lives of one and a half billion who had a euphoric experience when Jasprit Bumrah snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the T20 World Cup final last year. However, things have turned dramatically upside down since then, with India witnessing an exponential downfall as a Test side. 

Bumrah's Back Injury: A Catastrophe For India Before Champions Trophy

As if the World Cup final was not enough, Bumrah kept the Indian hopes alive for a turnaround in the BGT despite the visitors' star-studded batting unit failing umpteen times. So, as a back injury is all set to sideline him from the group-stage Champions Trophy matches, the Men in Blue find themselves in troubled waters surrounded by chaos and adversity. 

With due respect to India's white-ball prowess, it won't be a walk in the park for them to outsmart the spirited BlackCaps, the giant killers Bangladesh and a certain Pakistani side that has seen its resurgence under the reins of Mohammad Rizwan. And now, with Bumrah's participation being jeopardised, India are in dire need of some ways to compensate for the seam-bowling maestro. 

On a practical note, there's absolutely no one in the world who can be as impactful as Jasprit Bumrah in a modern-day white-ball game. However, as the fast bowler is on the brink of missing out on the competition, there are three ways that India can consider implementing for the sake of their success in the Champions Trophy. 

How Can India Win Champions Trophy Without Jasprit Bumrah?

Focus On Batting Depth

  • In Jasprit Bumrah's presence, even a score less than 300 seems defendable in modern-day ODIs. However, as the fast bowler will likely be sidelined, India will require the cushion of a mammoth total for their bowlers. 
  • In such a scenario, it's essential to ensure batting depth and prioritise multi-dimensional players instead of overcrowding the lineup with specialists. So, the likes of Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy should be in India's XI. Furthermore, a deep batting lineup will allow Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul to adopt a slightly more aggressive approach with the bat. 

Use Arshdeep Singh Wisely

  • Arshdeep Singh is unarguably the best swing bowler in the Indian team at the moment. While Mohammed Siraj has the out-swing and a three-quarter delivery as his prime wicket-taking weapons in his armour, Arshdeep's left-arm angle and ability to swing and nail yorkers in the death overs make him a trickier bowler than Mohammed Shami, who is at the twilight of his career. 
  • Therefore, India must take Arshdeep's bowling prowess more seriously and use his overs wisely with the new as well as old ball. The left-arm pacer played a pivotal role in India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign and could emerge as a match-winner if the management trusts and backs him in the Champions Trophy. 

Ensure Variety In Bowling Lineup

  • Jasprit Bumrah has undeniably attained the peak as a fast bowler. Apart from swinging the ball both ways, Bumrah's ability to capitalise on slightest of seam movement, hit the deck hard and outfox batters with his variations and yorkers make him the most complete package the game has ever seen. 
  • So, India must be aware of their resources and ensure variety in their bowling lineup to make up for Bumrah's absence. While the left-arm angle of Arshdeep is a must, the likes of Siraj, Shami, Pandya and Axar Patel should complement each other and attack like a pack to gun down the fiercest of opponents. It will also come down to how the Indian think tank uses these resources, as even a small tactical blunder can derail their Champions Trophy campaign.