‘If you Have to Pick a Cricket Team Now, Jasprit Bumrah Would be the First Name’: Paul Collingwood Lavishes Praise on Indian Pacer – News18

The ongoing edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean is heading towards the business end with the semifinal of the T20 showpiece all set to get underway on Thursday.

India are drawn against England in a mouth-watering final-four encounter at the Providence Stadium in Guyana and the clash is certain to prove to be an entertaining affair with holders England squaring up against inaugural edition champions India.

Ahead of the enticing encounter, former England skipper Paul Collingwood, who led the English to their first T20 title over a decade ago, opined that India have the best seamer in world cricket in Jasprit Bumrah, which gives the men in blue a huge advantage.

“I think if you had a piece of paper and had to pick a cricket team, in any form of the game, Jasprit Bumrah would be the first name going on that list right at the top. It’s as simple as that,” he began.

“He’s the best cricketer in the world at this moment. The skill level, the pace, the deception that he has in T20 cricket are incredible,” the 48-year-old said.

However, he also added that England would look to take the attack to the Indian bowling spearhead instead of seeing Bumrah’s four overs out.

“But the one thing I would say is that in the past, England have gone aggressive. If they can take down that spearhead, if they can take down that linchpin, the effect it has on the opposition is huge, and that’s the kind of mentality that England will have to have,” he opined.

He touched up on the psychological impact taking down the opposition’s strike bowler could have on a side and stated that while the approach might be risky, it would prove the difference if England manage to pull it off.

“They won’t be taking the conservative approach here, they won’t be looking to just see him off, you saw Travis Head get after Bumrah a couple of times, in the Australia match. And the impact it has if the opposition takes down your spearhead, could dishearten the Indian cricket team,” Collingwood continued.

“So that’s an approach that England may take, but it’s a risky one because we know how skilful and how many wickets Bumrah can take,” he said.

Collingwood also lauded Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for the mentality he has managed to create in the dressing room and for leading by example.

“I think the messaging is pretty clear from Rohit Sharma. Whether it’s the messaging in the changing room, or some of the messaging we have seen in his press conferences, where he says it’s not about personal milestones, it’s about strike rates or having an impact on the game, all these things are huge when it comes to players going out and having that belief that the captain and the coach are 100% behind you, and have an impact on the game. And I think it’s seen a massive change in the Indian cricket team,” he explained.

He also went on to speak about Virat Kohli’s ability to chase down scores with aplomb.

“They’ve always been one of the best chasers in T20 cricket, Virat Kohli at the top of the order, once he knows what rhythm, what style he’s got to play, then he’s one of the best chasers,” he added.

He noticed the change in mentality in the approach the men in blue have opted for in recent years and drew parallels with the aggressive philosophy of the English.

“I’ve seen a massive switch in the Indian cricket team, especially when they are setting targets now, they really want to be aggressive from ball one. In England, they have been doing this for six, seven years, since Eoin Morgan took over in 2016,” Collingwood elaborated.

“They’ve had this really go out and be aggressive from ball one approach. And it seems that they’ve set a benchmark for other teams to follow that and India are no different. So when you’ve got the skill and the batters that the Indian cricket team have, it can be a very powerful and dangerous unit,” he concluded.

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