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SPORTS SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | The Indian Eye 42

ICC T20 WORLD CUP

All eyes on Bumrah, Bhuvi and Pant

as Men in Blue prepare for big games

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
ustralia legend Ricky Ponting
made some bold calls while
Atrying to decide who he would
choose as his favourite player in some
of the most difficult head-to-head
matchups between top names in T20
cricket.
Two of the premier fast bowlers
in the world, Jasprit Bumrah and Sha-
heen Afridi, can boast of having en-
viable records in the shortest format.
Bumrah has picked up 69 wickets in
58 matches while Afridi has scalped
47 in 40. The two pacers are equally
effective with the new ball as well as
in the death overs. Ponting too, had
a tough time in picking one, stating
in The ICC Review. “Look, how do
you split those two guys? They are two
of the best performing bowlers in the
world in the last couple of years in all
formats of the game,” Ponting said.
Eventually, Ponting settled for the
experienced campaigner in Bumrah.
“I’ll probably go on experience
alone - I’ll go for Bumrah. He’s played
a fair bit of cricket in Australia now, Jasprit Bumrah
played more in Australia than Afridi
and has played more big tournaments lieved that Pant had an edge over about who his star performer for Aus- World Cup campaign.
as well than Afridi has,” he added. Karthik as he is likely to be afforded tralia in the first T20I against India ADAM GILCHRIST BACKS
The debate in the Indian cricket- more chances. was and whether India can stick on RISHABH PANT FOR A SPOT
ing circles has long been raging on who “Look, I’m just going to favour to their current death bowling regime
should be the designated wicketkeep- Rishabh because I think he might ahead of the second and third T20Is ustralian legend Adam
er-batter in the side. While Karthik get slightly more opportunities than later this week. A Gilchrist backed Rishabh
can boast about being an excellent Dinesh does,” he concluded. Hayden backed the pacer and Pant to be included in the In-
finisher, Pant’s prodigious talent has BHUVI HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD said, “I disagree with that, I think he dian playing eleven amidst the Pant-
seen him being backed by many. FINISHER: HAYDEN can and has been a very good finisher. Karthik debate on Friday.
India have fielded both on the I think that’s his role, I mean, obvious- Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik
same side on some occasions and ith debates being sparked ly, his role is to take wickets up front are two of the 15 players who will be
Ponting believes that should be the on whether Bhuvneshwar but if your skipper wants an over or travelling to Australia for the ICC
way forward for Rohit Sharma’s team. WKumar is adept enough to two from you at the end, then he can Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. It’s like-
Praising both, Ponting, according to bowl the death overs for India, Aus- do that.” ly that only one of them might fit in
The ICC Review, said: “I actually tralian cricketer Matthew Hayden With the challenge of ‘Mission the star-studded batting order. Pant
think that India’s best team has both backed the Indian pacer and said he Melbourne’ looking even more daunt- has a particular edge because he is the
of these players. I don’t care if they are has been a very good “finisher.” ing than before, major issues in India’s only left-hander among India’s top six
both keepers but I think their batting India’s road to the ICC Men’s bowling need to be addressed as the batting options for the competition.
prowess is enough.” T20 World Cup started off on a rath- death overs have become a major talk However, Pant’s poor T20I perfor-
Elaborating on their abilities, the er sour note as Australia comfortably point in India’s recent performances. mance record and Dinesh Karthik’s
Australian legend added: “Rishabh in cruised to victory even as India put on With many of Australia’s young emergence as a finisher may work
the middle order and Dinesh as a fin- a massive score to fend off the World guns and debutants stealing the show against him.
isher, they look extremely dangerous Champions. Speaking on Star Sports last night in Mohali, there seems to be Gilchrist, however, backed Pant
to me.” show - ‘Match Point’, former Austra- a long way to go before India can be and asserted that he should absolutely
Continued at next page... >>
Ultimately though, Ponting be- lian cricketer Matthew Hayden spoke confident about having a successful Continued at next page... >>

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