Synopsis
Steve Harmison draws a compelling comparison between Jasprit Bumrah and Cristiano Ronaldo, emphasizing Bumrah's irreplaceable value to Indian cricket.Key Takeaways
- Harmison compares Bumrah's potential absence to Ronaldo missing a World Cup.
- India may wait until the last moment to decide on Bumrah's participation.
- Bumrah's injury history raises concerns about his fitness.
- The Champions Trophy begins on February 19 in Dubai.
- Bumrah was instrumental in India's recent Test series success.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has made a compelling comparison between India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting the irreplaceable quality of the fast bowler.
Harmison argues that if Bumrah is unable to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to injury, it would be similar to a FIFA World Cup missing Ronaldo at his peak.
Bumrah, who was instrumental in India’s Test series against Australia, is currently dealing with a back swelling and is expected to miss the group stage of the Champions Trophy. However, Harmison believes that India should retain him in the squad until the last possible moment, hoping for his return in the knockout stages.
During a segment on TalkSport Cricket, Harmison presented a strong argument for India’s patience regarding their leading fast bowler.
"He’s Jasprit Bumrah. For me, you can’t replace him at any time," Harmison stated. "I would even consider waiting until the morning of the final because he’s Jasprit Bumrah. He’s the best in the world. That’s my perspective from an Indian standpoint."
The former England pacer likened Bumrah’s potential absence to a football World Cup lacking one of the greatest forwards.
"It’s like attending a football World Cup without your top striker, Cristiano Ronaldo. Fifteen years ago, you wouldn’t replace Ronaldo until it was absolutely necessary. That’s how I envision India handling Bumrah’s situation."
Harmison humorously suggested that India could “carry him around in a sedan chair” throughout the tournament, hoping he would be available by the semi-finals or finals.
"It’s a 14-man squad. That’s sufficient to manage through the group stages. We might have him back by the semis. If he’s not fit, we’ll replace him as a precaution in case of another injury. But he’s Jasprit Bumrah."
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to kick off on February 19, featuring the top eight ODI teams globally. India will play all its matches in Dubai due to its refusal to compete in Pakistan, leading the ICC to approve a hybrid model.
India's group-stage matches include encounters against Bangladesh (February 20), Pakistan (February 23), and New Zealand (March 2). If India advances, the semi-finals will occur on March 4 and 5, with the final slated for March 9. Bumrah's availability by then remains uncertain.
Bumrah was in remarkable form during India’s recent five-match Test series in Australia, where he took 32 wickets and was declared Player of the Series. However, he missed the last day of the series in Sydney due to his back injury, allowing Australia to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Injury issues have been a recurring theme for the Indian speedster. Bumrah previously missed nearly a year of international cricket, from September 2022 to August 2023, due to back surgery. Given his ongoing fitness challenges, India will be cautious about rushing him back.
