Srinagar: Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has pinned India’s hopes of winning ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on the fitness level of pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
“India has lost just two matches (T20Is against West Indies), so we do not need to get overly concerned. I am seeing a lot of negative reaction after the two losses. But I will only say that our team is extremely competitive,” Mohammad Kaif was was quoted.
“I am not going to judge (India) on two back-to-back losses (in the West Indies). The only thing is that key players are missing”.
Kaif said Bumrah not in Team India currently is a big factor missing.
“Bumrah missing is the biggest factor. If he recovers fully one aspect is to complete the recovery and the other aspect is to gain match fitness. If he regains that (match fitness), it will be a massive gain for Team India”.
“If Bumrah is fully fit, we have a great chance of winning the World Cup at home,” said Kaif.
Bumrah is scheduled to stage a comeback during the T20 series against Ireland after being out of action for almost a year following a back surgery.
“A lot of people are discussing that the (India) team under (chief coach) Rahul Dravid lost the (T20) Asia Cup (last year), the (T20) World Cup in Australia, the World Test Championship in England (recently).
“I understand all that, mistakes have happened. But I think, is it not easy to play with Bumrah not in the side. He is the biggest match-winner and Rohit Sharma didn’t get his services, so think about all that”.