The Indian cricket team began their bilateral T20I series against Australia on a losing note on Tuesday following a lacklustre performance in the Asia Cup. Even though India batted first and scored 208/6, they still lost the game by four wickets. Runs were leaked by Umesh Yadav (2-0-27-2), Hardik Pandya (2-0-22-0), Harshal Patel (4-0-49-0), Yuzvendra Chahal (3.2-0-42-1), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-0-52-0). Aakash Chopra, a former player for India, believes that India’s chances of winning the 2022 T20 World Cup, which begins in mid-October, have been diminished by this bowling lineup.
“We are saying that Harshal will be back, Bumrah will be back and everything will be alright. It does not happen that way. This is the sad reality of life. Bumrah was in the Mumbai Indians team, others did not bowl well and see what happened to MI this year. In one match you can take five to six wickets, in the rest of the days you won’t get that many wickets,” Aakash Chopra said.
“According to me, Indian bowling is looking very weak, no wicket-taking options are in sight. Yuzi Chahal continues to bowl faster. He is not bowling slower ones. The same was the case in Asia Cup. How will you get wickets if you don’t bowl slower at all? The reality is that India have a weak bowling line-up. With this line-up, hopes of winning the World Cup become less. If you can’t defend 208, then things are going to be difficult. Remember, this Australian team is without four of its main members.”
