“How can you expect that this will be the same Bumrah that we have seen so far?” – Madan Lal asks India to not depend on Jasprit Bumrah any more

Madan Lal, a former India cricketer, made a fairly frank comment on Jasprit Bumrah while also giving his support to Umesh Yadav’s inclusion in India’s team for the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Recent reports suggest that Bumrah, the team’s pace leader, may be sidelined for the most of 2023. The pacer has traveled to New Zealand to have surgery for his back ailment.

Meanwhile, ex-Indian all-rounder Madan Lal delivered a stinging assessment, saying that Bumrah must be taken “out of the equation” if India is to succeed. Then he added Vidarbha bowler Umesh Yadav to the Indian team as a substitute.

What did Madan Lal say about Jasprit Bumrah?

“They will take Umesh (to the WTC final). There you need at least 3 pacers so, only one spinner might play and the rest will be fast bowlers. Bumrah ko ab bhool jao. Usko chhor dijiye aap (Forget Bumrah. Leave him out of the equation). When Bumrah returns, we will see then. Use whatever you have. What is the guarantee? No wonder when he will return – maybe in 1 to 1.5 years. He has not played in so long. It means his injury is very serious,” said the 71-year-old on Sports Tak.

“At max, an injury takes 3 months to heal and he hasn’t played since September – even Hardik Pandya was able to return in 4 months post his back surgery – and Bumrah hasn’t played since 6 months. So, how can you expect that this will be the same Bumrah that we have seen so far? It will take him time. If you want to see the same Bumrah, you will have to give him time,” he added.

Madan further by saying that the severity of Bumrah’s injury makes it unrealistic to anticipate a quick recovery.

In the meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and company are close to securing their spot in the World Test Championship final. But if they beat Australia in the fourth red-ball match in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they would have a far easier time qualifying for the final.