IND vs NZ | Jasprit Bumrahâs withering form in ODIs is worrisome, opines VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman feels that the degrading form of Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in the first 2 ODIs of the series, is a cause of concern for the team heading into the future. Laxman further feels that the dismissal of Virat Kohli in Auckland was a testament to the Kiwisâ âsmartnessâ on the field.
Itâs been a rough comeback to cricket post the lower-back stress fracture for Indiaâs pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has often struggled with line, length and rhythm. Bumrah, in the five ODIs post his return, has managed to pick up just one wicket, and the tearaway quick went wicketless in the first two ODIs against the Kiwis and was negated with ease by the hosts.
Legendary Indian cricketer VVS Laxman feels that the withering form of Bumrah in the ODI format is a cause of concern for team India and went on to point out that the speedsterâs line and length has been awry throughout the entirety of the tour.
"It must be a cause for concern for India that Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli's go-to bowler whenever he has needed breakthroughs, has been short of wickets all tour,â Laxman was quoted as saying by Times of India.
âAdditionally, his lengths too haven't been spot-on, which means he hasn't been able to impose usual pressure. Of course, New Zealand's batsmen have played him well, with Taylor in the forefront.â
After being reduced to 197-8 at one stage, it looked like the Kiwis were going to fold for a total well below par in Auckland, but Ross Taylor - whoâd scored a match-winning ton in the first ODI - came to hostsâ rescue again, as his unbeaten 73 propelled them to a score of 273. Laxman feels that Taylorâs knock played a huge part in turning the game around in New Zealandâs favour and went on to describe the veteran Kiwi as a âclass actâ.Â
"Once again, Ross Taylor showed what a class act he is, batting through the innings after India clawed their way back in the middle stages. Martin Guptill played an excellent hand, but until debutant Kyle Jamieson joined him, Taylor was waging a lone battle.
âAt one stage, it looked as if New Zealand might have to settle for 220 or thereabouts, but through sensible batting, they reached a total which gave their bowlers something to fight with.â
The biggest moment of the match, arguably, came in the 10th over of the India innings, when Tim Southee knocked over Indianâs talisman Virat Kohli to punch a hole through the visitorsâ heart. The dismissal was Kohli was a plan laid out to perfection by the Kiwis, who initially kept taking the ball away from the right-hander before firing a few deliveries in to catch the Indian skipper off-guard. The 45-year-old believes that Kohliâs dismissal is a testament to the Kiwisâ smartness and lauded New Zealand for sticking to their plans.Â
âTim Southee's dismissal of Virat was an example of New Zealand's smartness in working out and sticking to game plans. Even though he was physically suffering, Southee kept at it. He set Virat up with a series of away swingers, then brought one back in to sneak it through the gate, a fantastic piece of bowling."