Jasprit Bumrah's Performance Under Scrutiny in IND vs AUS T20I
During the second T20I at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jasprit Bumrah's bowling came under criticism despite taking two wickets for 26 runs in four overs. Former India batter Robin Uthappa noted that the pace bowler's lengths were inconsistent when he was trying too hard to pick up wickets.
Robin Uthappa’s Analysis
“When we were bowling after scoring 125, the start was very important. If we had picked up two or three wickets in the first three or four overs, the game could have been closer because we have quality spinners in the middle overs. I felt we were probably trying too hard to pick up wickets. So we got a little wayward.”
“I have observed that whenever Bumrah gets desperate to pick up wickets, he becomes slightly wayward, and when he is disciplined and hits a good line and length, he mostly picks up wickets. Australia took full advantage of that waywardness at the start, the way we started with the ball in the second innings.”
Team Performance
India managed a modest total of 125 runs, where the batting lineup struggled overall except for a half-century from Abhishek Sharma and a quick contribution from Harshit Rana. The 2007 World Cup winner expressed disappointment over India's batting display, highlighting the need for improvement.
Key Points
- Bumrah took two wickets but was erratic in length due to desperation.
- Early wickets could have made the match more competitive.
- Australia capitalized on Bumrah’s waywardness.
- India’s batting, except a few players, was underwhelming.
Author’s summary: Jasprit Bumrah's inconsistent bowling under pressure and India's poor batting, except for limited highlights, contributed to a challenging T20I against Australia at the MCG.