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Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed his support for Jasprit Bumrah, hailing him as a key player for Team India's chances in the ODI World Cup 2023. Bumrah is set to make his comeback to international cricket as the Indian skipper for the upcoming Ireland tour.
Speaking on the importance of injured players' return, Kaif emphasized that India's success in the World Cup would depend significantly on their comeback. Bumrah's return from a prolonged injury layoff will be closely watched to gauge his fitness level. According to Kaif, India needs a fully fit Bumrah to perform well in the World Cup, especially since the team lacks a reliable backup in the bowling department.
The absence of key players like K L Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer, coupled with Bumrah's significance, has raised concerns about the team's strength on paper. Kaif pointed out past instances when India's performance suffered due to Bumrah's absence. He believes that having Bumrah in top form will be crucial for India's chances in the tournament.
Regarding India's experiments during the West Indies tour, Kaif stated that he would not judge the team based on those games. Instead, he will evaluate them from the Asia Cup onwards and the final 15 players selected for the tournament. Kaif stressed the importance of finalizing the starting eleven and the backup players early on to build a strong and stable team.
In conclusion, Kaif speculated that players like Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer may not all be part of the final 15 for the World Cup. He expects Kishan to potentially serve as the backup wicket-keeper to Rahul. With high stakes in the World Cup, Kaif believes India's campaign will truly kick off with the semi-final, and the team will need to win two big games to lift the coveted title.
