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Not Kohli Or Pandya; How Can Bumrah Help India Lift T20 WC? Kumble Reveals

Jasprit Bumrah celebrating the wicket (AP Photo) Jasprit Bumrah celebrating the wicket (AP Photo)

Indian bowling legend Anil Kumble shared his insights on Jasprit Bumrah and how his unique skill set and adaptability will be key to India's victorious emergence in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Bumrah's ability to repeatedly take matters into his own hands is precisely what India missed for over a year when he was out of action. Ever since his return, the 'BOOM' magic has been a crucial element of the Indian bowling arsenal.

With the help of Jasprit Bumrah's heroics, India thrashed Pakistan and successfully defended their lowest T20I total. His lethal spell of four overs where he scalped three wickets after giving away just 14 runs, two of which were Babar Azam and Mohd. Rizwan helped India have a fair chance of winning the game.

While speaking on ESPN, Kumble talked about Bumrah's strategies and efficiency during the game against their arch-rivals and how, with his help, India has a fair chance of winning this tournament and bringing home the coveted T20 WC trophy. 

"We saw that with that 15th over where he got that wicket (of Mohammad Rizwan), and then the 19th over, when you knew that in that over if he had given a couple of boundaries, then last over 10 runs, 12 runs, possible," Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo.

"But once it gets to that 18 runs, 19 runs, on a surface like this, (it's) impossible for the tail-enders to come and get those runs. So Jasprit Bumrah, if India go on to win this tournament, he would have to play a major role," Kumble said.

Moreover, Kumble couldn't hold back on his praise for the Indian quick and said that he is the team's number one player, irrespective of the surface or the format of the game, implying that if Bumrah is bowling, then there is immense pressure on the batters.

"Jasprit Bumrah should be your number one in your team list. Forget about the format, Jasprit Bumrah is your number one. Yes, this is a pitch where it was not easy for the bowlers but the variations and also the kind of pressure he puts on the batters...

Knowing that it's not going to be easy, forget the surface, any surface, we have seen that right throughout his career, it's not easy. Any batter coming in front of Bumrah knows that it's going to be tough, and on a surface like this, he just builds the pressure," he added.

Talking about the game, during the first innings, the ball was in Pakistan's court, having dismantled India for just 119 runs in 20 overs. But the best was yet to come as the Indian bowlers wreaked havoc on Men In Green, especially Bumrah and Hardik Pandya's 2/24, which reignited India's hopes. As a result, Pakistan lost to India by six runs in New York.