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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has delivered a scathing critique of the Indian cricket team's current state, highlighting a critical weakness within their bowling attack. Following India's crushing 8-wicket defeat to New Zealand, Ali not only expressed concerns about the team's batting struggles but also pointed a finger at the lack of a formidable pace bowling partner for the star bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Ali, drawing parallels between Bumrah's bowling style and that of legendary Pakistani fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, emphasized the need for a strong second paceman to support Bumrah, especially when facing the formidable Australian pace attack. He stated that while Mohammed Siraj has consistently been Bumrah's partner across formats in recent years, the absence of Mohammed Shami, who is currently recovering from injury, has been acutely felt by the team. The return of Shami to full fitness before the Australia tour was deemed essential by Ali.
Beyond the immediate concerns about the bowling attack, Ali also expressed interest in seeing how new head coach Gautam Gambhir will navigate the team's first Test defeat at home in over 12 years, particularly after the team's embarrassing low score. He questioned Gambhir's leadership style, contrasting it with that of Rahul Dravid, who had previously steered the team through similar challenges. This defeat, according to Ali, serves as a wake-up call for Gambhir, who will need to quickly adapt to the pressures of leading India in the upcoming Australia tour.
Source: "He Doesn't Have...": Ex-Pakistan Star Points Out What Jasprit Bumrah Is Lacking