Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has backed left-arm quickArshdeep Singh ahead of Harshit Rana as his first choice replacementfor the injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Champions Trophy openeragainst Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the ICC Champions Trophy squad could be a golden opportunity for the side’s rising pacers — Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Opener Shubman Gill’s majestic 112, along with solid half-centuries by Shreyas Iyer (78) and Virat Kohli (52), propelled India to a massive 356 in the third and final ODI against England.
It’s a common term in cricket — fast bowlers hunt in pairs. And when the leader of the pack, in this case Jasprit Bumrah runs through the top order to set the tone, it often eases off the pressure from the younger lot.
He added that the team management wants to use this time and make Rana prepared for the BGT.
Gearing up for his maiden trip Down Under with the senior team for the crucial five-Test tour, Delhi pacer Harshit Rana is working on the insights gathered from India’s star duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on the lengths and strategies required to dazzle in pace-friendly Australian conditions.
It was a thrilling last-ball finish to remember as Klassen dragged SRH from the verge of defeat to almost over the line before Rana took it away from them.
