Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the ODI format after a long break of 968 days, playing his match against England in Birmingham. His return was memorable as he not only reached the milestone of 150 international matches in ODI but also set a new significant record in England.
To reach 150 wickets in ODIs, Bumrah used only 4605 balls. This made him the third bowler in Indian history to reach this mark with the fewest deliveries. Other Indian bowlers who have reached this milestone include Mohammad Shami (4070 balls), Kuldeep Yadav (4513 balls), Ajit Agarkar (5027 balls), and Irfan Pathan (5131 balls).
In his very first appearance upon returning, Bumrah dismissed Harry Brook on the 13th over using a short ball outside off stump. This delivery featured extra bounce and outward movement. Brook attempted to direct the ball towards the third man, but it hit the outer edge of the bat, and Rohit Sharma, fielding at first slip, caught it easily.
Bumrah demonstrated that his pace and sharpness have not diminished after the long break. He also continued to dominate in ODIs on English soil, taking the number one spot among Indian bowlers for the most wickets taken in England.
According to statistics, Bumrah has taken 31 wickets in ODIs in England, surpassing Ravindra Jadeja (30 wickets), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (28 wickets), Madan Lal (27 wickets), and Mohammad Shami (26 wickets). Thus, his return brought him a double gift: cementing his name in the records and demonstrating why he is considered the main attacking weapon of Indian bowling.
In the second T20 match between England and India, held on July 4th in Manchester, Ravi Bishnoi's performance was one of the factors contributing to India's defeat. In four overs, Bishnoi allowed the opposition to score 60 runs without taking a single wicket.
The biggest damage was done in the seventeenth over, when Bishnoi bowled three no-balls. English batter Jacob Bethell capitalized on the free hit and changed the course of the game. Although any player can have an off day, Bishnoi's performance has raised serious questions regarding the spin strategy of the Indian team. The discussion goes beyond just a bad spell, touching upon why he is considered a key spinner in the Indian squad.
Ravi Bishnoi is classified as a leg-spinner, but his deliveries are predominantly based on googly. He does not demonstrate significant spin or deviation characteristic of traditional leg-breaks. His success relies on pace, a flat trajectory, and balls spinning in an unconventional direction (googly). The problem arises when batters start reading his googly. Under such conditions, he lacks an alternative with greater spin or the ability to consistently control the tempo of the game, which was evident in Manchester.
In T20 matches, it is extremely rare and costly for a spinner to bowl three no-balls. A spinner is expected to control the tempo and maintain pressure. However, Bishnoi's performance allowed England to break under pressure. India had already secured two early victories against England and had a strong target of 190 runs, so the team only required disciplined play, which Bishnoi failed to provide.
Ravi Bishnoi recently moved from the Lucknow Super Giants to the Rajasthan Royals after being released. Nevertheless, his place in the IPL was not entirely guaranteed. The question arises as to why the Indian national team continues to give him consistent chances if his role is not even defined at the franchise level.
Questions also arise concerning the work of India's spin coach, Sairaj Batule: is there a plan to improve Bishnoi's game? Are they working on developing a strong leg-break for him, or is the team relying solely on his current style? While drawing conclusions about the end of Bishnoi's career based on one match is premature, he is young and capable of returning to the game. Nevertheless, the performance in Manchester indicates that the Indian team needs to clearly define his role and selection criteria.
If a spinner cannot regularly take wickets, control the tempo, and simultaneously contribute to the batting, the question naturally arises about his right to be in the Indian T20 squad.
