First T20I between India and Ireland in 2023: Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness is highlighted as Gen-Next Indian Stars Prepare for Global Stage
Even though some of their biggest stars won’t be playing in the Ireland T20Is, the Indian cricket team’s management will be closely monitoring the development of their Gen-Next stars. In particular, they will be keeping a close eye on Jasprit Bumrah, who has been out for almost 11 months due to fitness issues.
Bumrah will captain India in T20Is for the first time and will be the eleventh different person to do so at the international level.
India News
The series will provide chief selector Ajit Agarkar, ODI captain Rohit Sharma, and head coach Rahul Dravid a good picture of the fast bowler’s fitness level even if Bumrah will only bowl a maximum of 12 overs over three games across five days.
However, the one-day format would provide a unique difficulty since Bumrah will be required to bowl 10 overs.
The BCCI posted Bumrah’s bowling footage on its official social media account. It showed him hurriedly bowling a right-hander with a disguised short ball and then almost yorking a left-hander with a toe-crusher.
However, the circumstances of the contest would be quite different, and both Dravid and Rohit have ruined a match by pushing a player too soon before the T20 World Cup in Australia last year.
The outcomes were terrible. That was the last series he participated in before his seven-year international career’s longest break.
Earlier this year, he was selected for a home series but was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to surgery to repair an ailment that may have ended his career.
Bumrah will benefit from the Ireland series by getting in more mileage on his legs and preparing for the Asia Cup, when he will face off against players like Babar Azam up front on September 2.
Ireland News
Even though they haven’t yet won a game against India, Ireland, captained by Andrew Balbirnie and with helpful players like Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, and left-arm spinner George Dockrell, is a strong team in the shortest format.
Josh Little, their left-arm seamer, was a key member of the Gujarat Titans club the previous season and would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities against an Indian team loaded with talent.
With the exception of Bumrah and Sanju Samson, every member of this Indian squad will be competing for a gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, thus the core group will want to make the most of the three T20 Internationals.
Sanju Samson is the one player whose status will undoubtedly be scrutinized. Unless head coach Sitanshu Kotak receives a standing order from main team management to play the Kerala player ahead of the Asia Cup, he is unlikely to make the starting XI.
Jitesh and Rinku, two intriguing IPL discoveries, are anticipated to get their T20 India debuts, while Shivam Dube will be eager for a chance at atonement.
Similar to Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna is also making a return to competitive cricket. The Bengaluru fast bowler was a lock for the ODI team until suffering a lower back stress fracture that also needed surgery.
Before making a final decision on the Asia Cup selection, selectors are anticipated to review Krishna’s performance. The squad is anticipated to be unveiled by this week’s end.
It would be fascinating to see how team management and the players balance team objectives with those of the individual players while keeping the broader picture in mind.
Entire Squads
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed.
Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Ben White, Craig Young, and Theo van Weorkom are the Irish players.
