If only Jadeja trusted Bumrah more: Sandhu on Lord’s defeat
India’s 22-run loss to England at Lord’s on Wednesday was a disappointing outcome for the Men in Blue, and it seems that former Indian pacer Balwinder Sandhu is still reeling from the defeat. In an interview, Sandhu sharply criticized Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 61* off 45 balls, suggesting that the all-rounder’s lack of trust in Jasprit Bumrah ultimately cost India the match.
Speaking to a leading cricket website, Sandhu said, “If only he had trusted Jasprit Bumrah a bit more, especially when Bumrah was defending so well and resisted taking that single off the fourth ball to retain strike. Had he backed himself to finish it in those last two balls, I think the outcome would have been different.”
Sandhu’s words are a scathing indictment of Jadeja’s approach during the match. With India requiring 15 runs off the last two overs, Jadeja, who had already taken 23 runs off 15 balls, came out to bat and played a crucial partnership with Shardul Thakur. However, instead of giving Bumrah the strike, Jadeja chose to take the singles and doubles himself, which ultimately led to India falling short of the target.
Sandhu’s criticism is not unfounded. Bumrah has been one of India’s most consistent bowlers in recent years, and his ability to bowl tight lines and lengths has been a key factor in India’s success. On Wednesday, Bumrah was at his best, defending 12 runs off the 48th over and just one run off the 49th over. Giving him the strike in those situations would have given India a better chance of winning the match.
Moreover, Sandhu’s comments also hint at a deeper issue within the Indian team – the lack of trust in Bumrah’s abilities. While Bumrah has been one of India’s most reliable bowlers, he has often been denied the freedom to bowl his natural length and style. This has led to situations where he has been forced to bowl shorter lengths, which has resulted in India conceding boundaries and taking the pressure off the opposition.
The lack of trust in Bumrah’s abilities is not a new phenomenon. In recent years, there have been instances where he has been taken off the attack too early, or been forced to bowl in situations where he is not comfortable. This lack of trust has been a major factor in India’s struggles in ODI cricket, and it is something that the team needs to address if they want to be successful in the format.
Sandhu’s comments also raise questions about Jadeja’s captaincy. As a senior player, Jadeja has been given the captaincy in several matches, including the recent ODI series against England. However, his tactical decisions have often been questioned, and his inability to trust Bumrah’s abilities is a major concern.
In the end, India’s loss at Lord’s was a disappointing outcome, and it is clear that the team has a lot of work to do if they want to be successful in ODI cricket. Sandhu’s comments serve as a reminder of the importance of trusting one’s bowlers, and the need for Jadeja to reassess his captaincy tactics.
