ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has named Arshdeep Singh as the ideal replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah, recommending the left-arm pacer to take the new ball alongside Mohammed Shami for India at the ICC Champions Trophy.
India suffered a significant setback when Bumrah was ruled out due to a back injury earlier this month, leaving little time to finalize their bowling attack ahead of their tournament opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
"I would go with the left-armer, and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review.
"We know how good he’s been in T20 cricket, and if you think about his skill set, he probably provides a similar role to what Bumrah does with the new ball and at the death. That’s what India will miss the most.
"That’s not to take anything away from Harshit Rana—he has a lot of talent and is effective with the new ball—but I don’t think his death-over skills are as strong as Arshdeep’s.
"And having that left-arm variation is crucial. Someone who can swing the ball early on adds a different dimension, especially in big tournaments where many teams have right-handed top-order batters. If I were India, I would lean in that direction."
Ponting also highlighted the depth in India’s 15-player squad, mentioning Hardik Pandya’s all-round abilities and Varun Chakravarthy’s potential impact with his variations.
"Harshit Rana has done well since coming into the side, and (Mohammed) Shami is fit too," Ponting noted. "Hardik Pandya will also have a big role to play with the ball, helping ease the workload in Bumrah’s absence.
"I think (Varun) Chakravarthy can also have a huge impact in this tournament. He’s often been seen as a T20 specialist, but with his variations and skill, he could be a game-changer in the Champions Trophy."
Despite Bumrah’s absence, Ponting remains confident in India’s squad depth.
"I think we all knew they were going to be one of the main contenders. Replacing someone like Bumrah is tough, but if any team has the talent to do it, it’s India."
Source: The Daily Sun
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