Flop ODI XI of the year 2020

9. Jasprit Bumrah

Here’s another name you wouldn’t have quite expected to see on a flop-XI list. But then it has just been that kind of a year where even the best in business have had to cop some tough reality checks. And India’s ace seamer, Jasprit ‘Boom-Boom’ Bumrah, happens to fall under that bracket this year.

As bizarre as it is, Bumrah- not unlike a whole bunch of other players on this team- had an impressive run in the shortest format. 2020 saw Boom-Boom play a major part in team India’s series wins against Sri Lanka (2-0), New Zealand (5-0), and Australia (2-1). Somewhere in between, he also starred in the Mumbai Indians’ successful title defence in this year’s IPL. With 27 wickets to his name, Bumrah finished as the tourney’s second-highest wicket-taker.

But for as good and impactful as his T20 exploits were, Bumrah lacked his characteristic venom in ODIs this year. In 9 games, Bumrah could claim only 5 wickets at a shocking average of 96.4. His abysmal strike rate of 102.8 conveys just how badly India were missing their strike-bowler’s wicket-taking prowess.

Bumrah’s dip in form comes as a big concern of captain Virat Kohli. In recent times, he hasn’t always had the company of some of his senior teammates in the team, which has started to bring his leadership under some scrutiny. It’s fair to say that both captain Kohli and India fans will be a lot more relieved to have Boom-Boom at his wicket-taking prime next year.