New Delhi, Sep 9 : Saba Karim, the former India wicketkeeper-batter and former member of the selection committee for senior males believes that the team could not come up with the injuries sustained by pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel and left-arm spin spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.Before leaving to attend the Asia Cup in the UAE, Bumrah and Harshal were not able to be selected due to rib and back injuries to their ribs and back.
Prior to the beginning of Super Four stage, Jadeja was declared out due to a right knee injury and underwent surgery to treat the same, which has ruled Jadeja out of selection for the T20 World Cup in October-November.
“Yes I was a bit confused because I believed that before entering the Asia Cup, India have solved their problems.
However, I understand that they were hampered by injury to Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, and the injury that was recently sustained by Ravindra Jadeja.
“But that being said once you’ve got the right combination, you can always replace it with the tools you’ve got in the back of your hand,” said Karim on “Sports Over The top,” a show on Sports18.
After explaining the last line he used, Karim remarked India put excessive stress on Hardik Pandya’s bowling abilities, in the absence of Jadeja, in the playing eleven, in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.
“For example, India has had a extremely successful T20 campaign, starting with the home series with South Africa by sticking to five bowlers and an additional sixth bowling option in Hardik Pandya.This is the type of combination India has gone with and India has done well in the home series against South Africa, in England even West Indies.
“And I’m not sure the reason India did not follow that direction in the game following the first win over Pakistan.
India did not follow that direction and played with five bowlers, including Hardik Pandya as an additional bowling option.I believe that he put a lot of unnecessary pressure on the remainder of the bowling team.”
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