Dependency on Bumrah should be reduced, says Ashish Nehra

ashish nehra and bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been undoubtedly one of the shining names of Indian cricket in recent times. The way he performed and his accuracy made him one of the most lethal bowlers playing the game today. But it seems the pressure of the workload is catching up to him. Since his recovery from the stress fracture, the right-arm pacer has been a part of more 6 games and could only manage to take two wickets.

Many experts believe that he is not bowling at his usual best because of the injury he suffered and does not want it to happen again, so he is making sure that he does not get injured. Whatever the reason might be, the failure of Bumrah in the recent series has been one of the main factors for India’s debacle.

Speaking on the same, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra has revealed that the Men in Blue would have to reduce the pressure on Bumrah if they do not want to make things complicated for themselves. Nehra noted that India is relying too much on the young pacer and needs to reduce the pressure that he already has on his shoulders.

“You cannot expect Bumrah to deliver in every series. One has to remember he is returning from injury. It is difficult for anybody to keep performing at the top of his game all the time. Even Virat Kohli has had a quiet series,” Nehra said.  

Nehra also posed some questions on the selection of the playing XI in the recent series and requested them to tell the other pacers what they need to when they are on the field. He further added that the management has got used to having Bumrah and Mohammad Shami perform in almost every game.

“The Indian team management could be much better while picking the playing XI. The other pacers, besides Bumrah and (Mohammad) Shami, need to know their roles. They have got used to having Bumrah and Shami firing for the last two years. There is too much pressure on Bumrah. There has been very little consistency in the team selection so far,” Ashish Nehra added. 

The debate on Bumrah’s performance started when the ODI series against New Zealand recently came to an end. The pacer gave more than 160 runs in 3 matches and could not pick even a single wicket in the 30 overs that he bowled during the series.

Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the match-winners for Virat Kohli and the Indian skipper would surely want him to have his mojo back before the T20 World Cup.