'Jasprit Bumrah will make huge difference for India in T20 World Cup' - Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels ace paceman Jasprit Bumrah will make a huge difference for India in the T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia in October-November. The former cricketer, who recently bid adieu to all forms of cricket recently, also gave some advice to the Indian bowlers on how to deliver in Australian conditions in the showpiece event. This will be the third time that Australia will be hosting a World Cup, after the 50-over tournaments in 1992 and 2015.

Bumrah made a comeback to the Indian side after August when he played a Test match in the Caribbeans. He suffered from lower back stress and returned in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. While the first match was abandoned because of the damp pitch, Bumrah got to bowl in the second game in Indore but could take only one wicket conceding 32 runs in four overs. He was playing in the third match in Pune in which India batted first.

Irfan Pathan’s advice on how to bowl on Australia wicket

“If you can swing, according to the pitch you will also get with,” said Irfan Pathan, who batted and bowled left-handed and has a Test hat-trick in Pakistan, was quoted as saying in an exclusive interview with India TV. Pathan had made an impressive international debut in Australia in 2003 and his yorker that castled Adam Gilchrist received massive applause.

“Variation in T20 is important because if batsmen play big shots, then they get a rhythm. The batsman has gone to his zone. So to confuse the batsman, you should have such a weapon that can dodge in the middle. In my view, it should be deceptive variation rather than a variation. Which forces the batter to dodge. It is very important in bowling,” the 35-year-old, who played in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is to score over 2,800 runs and take over 300 wickets, said.

Explaining why Bumrah can make a difference for India in the T20 World Cup, Pathan said: “For Australia, if you can spin the ball at a fast speed with swing, then no one can stop you. It is the icing on the gold. But in terms of Team India, I think Jasprit Bumrah is going to make a big difference in the T20 World Cup.” The 26-year-old pacer played a key role in India’s historic win in the 2018-19 Test series in Australia. He had ended up with 21 wickets in four matches.

“Apart from the Indian bowlers, Australia’s Stark and Cummins are also deadly who will put eight overs in 20 overs which will not let them do anything. So this is also a top-quality bowling side,” Pathan, whose brother Yusuf also played for India, said.

Watch: Irfan Pathan’s interview post his retirement