Jasprit Bumrah’s Bowling Under Scrutiny After MCG T20I
In the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India managed just 125 runs, and despite Jasprit Bumrah’s effort with two wickets for 26 runs in four overs, his bowling came under criticism. Former India batter Robin Uthappa highlighted Bumrah’s tendency to be erratic when trying too hard to take wickets.
Robin Uthappa’s Analysis
“When we were bowling after scoring 125, the start was very important. If we had picked up two or three wickets in the first three or four overs, the game could have been closer because we have quality spinners in the middle overs. I felt we were probably trying too hard to pick up wickets. So we got a little wayward.”
“I have observed that whenever Bumrah gets desperate to pick up wickets, he becomes slightly wayward, and when he is disciplined and hits a good line and length, he mostly picks up wickets. Australia took full advantage of that waywardness at the start, the way we started with the ball in the second innings.”
Batting Performance Concerns
Uthappa also criticized India’s batting, noting the team’s overall poor showing except for notable contributions from Abhishek Sharma, who scored a half-century, and a brief cameo from Harshit Rana.
Summary
The match exposed India’s struggles with both bowling discipline and batting consistency, limiting their competitiveness.
Author’s summary: Jasprit Bumrah’s occasional loss of control under pressure and India's weak batting performance were key factors in their struggle against Australia at the MCG T20I.