Not Harshit Rana but Arshdeep Singh ideal replacement for Bumrah for Champions Trophy, says Ponting

Arshdeep Singh was named in India’s initial squad, while Harshit Rana came into the squad after Jasprit Bumrah got injured.

You can’t find a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. But the India cricket team had to name Harshit Rana as the backup for the world’s best pacer in their ICC Champions Trophy squad. The 23-year-old is wildly talented but he doesn’t have much to prove for it now. He’s played six matches in international cricket. To win the trophy, the Men in Blue need experience.

Who should replace Jasprit Bumrah?

Mohammed Shami would be a starter. But you need another ace pacer. For former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, Arshdeep is the right man to take Bumrah’s spot in the XI.

“I would go with the left-armer and I’d go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah). We know how good he’s been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that’s what India will miss. That’s taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don’t think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are,” Ponting said on The ICC Review.

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The two-time Champions Trophy winner thinks that being a left-arm pacer will be helpful for India. The match-up will favour India. We have seen right hand batters struggle with the ball coming into the ball.

“And just that left-arm variation, someone that can bowl left-arm with a new ball and move the new ball. We know how important they are and crucial they can be, especially in big tournaments when you’ve got a lot of right-handers at the top. I would personally lean that way if I was India. Harshit Rana’s done more since he’s come into the side. (Mohammed) Shami is fit too,” Ponting added.

Help Hardik Pandya can give

Hardik Pandya can also help cover for Bumrah a little bit. Four pacers will give Team India more stability. The all-rounder will make life easy for all of the other pacers. He can take their load of their backs in the middle-over with his quick and short pace deliveries.

“I think Hardik Pandya still has a big role to play on that side as well with the ball now to take a bit of the work away from what Bumrah can’t do and make life a bit easier for Shami,” the former Australian captain concluded.