Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma: R Ashwin picks this star as the player India will never be able to replace
Article excerpt
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin explains why India will never be able to replace this once-in-a-generation bowler, picking him over Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma.
Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma: R Ashwin picks this star as the player India will never be able to replace originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
R Ashwin calls Jasprit Bumrah India's truly irreplaceable player, above Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma.
Bumrah's fiery spell powered India's six-wicket win in first ODI.
His return marked his first ODI appearance since the 2023 World Cup final.
R Ashwin says India can replace Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but never Jasprit Bumrah
Ravichandran Ashwin picked Jasprit Bumrah as the player India will never be able to replace, even ahead of the poster boys of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
India's fortunes on the UK tour shifted the moment Bumrah returned to the fold, playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup final. His presence alone appeared to transform the entire atmosphere around the team, culminating in a six-wicket win in the series-opening ODI at Birmingham.
Fiery, disciplined fast bowling led by Bumrah triggered an early wobble in England's batting order. The hosts eventually recovered to post 258 runs, but it wasn't enough to stop a revitalised Indian side from clinching a six-wicket win.
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Ashwin: Bumrah's opening spell shows he is irreplaceable
Bumrah didn't strike immediately, going wicketless through the powerplay, though he still troubled England's openers with the sheer quality of his bowling.
The breakthrough eventually came once Shubman Gill introduced pace option Gurnoor Brar into the attack during the 13th over, which helped remove both openers. From there, Bumrah reaped the benefit of his earlier groundwork.
Bumrah bowled an outswinger with extra bounce that generated from his trademark hard-length deliveries, forcing Brook into an edge that was safely pouched by Rohit Sharma at first slip.
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With both Kohli and Rohit failing to make significant contributions with the bat that day, it was Bumrah's bowling that stood out as the difference-maker. Reflecting on his importance to the side, Ashwin didn't hold back, stating that while Kohli and Rohit may dominate posters and public attention, Bumrah remains the one player he genuinely believes cannot be replaced.
"Jasprit Bumrah's difference will always be there," he said on his YouTube channel, Ash ki Baat.
"We can paste Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the posters, all that is fine. But I am saying the fact is that Jasprit Bumrah cannot be replaced in my head. It is undeniable. Finding a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah is not difficult; it is impossible."
Ashwin's point is hard to argue against
The renewed sharpness in Bumrah's bowling was evident throughout his outing at Edgbaston. Earlier in the summer, his pace had visibly dipped, but following a break of over a month, he looked considerably closer to his best self at Edgbaston.
His absence had been keenly felt throughout the UK tour, and with him in the XI, India tasted their first taste of success in this trip. However, one must note that he is coming off a forgettable IPL season where he managed just four wickets across 13 matches.
But the Edgbaston performance shows that he has successfully buried the ghosts of the past.
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Bumrah's skill set, combining pace, precision, unconventional angles and match-defining variations, is a far rarer commodity, one India hasn't found a genuine substitute for in years. His importance isn't just statistical; it's psychological, changing how opposition batters approach entire innings simply knowing he's in the attack.
If India's white-ball ambitions hinge on any single player's fitness and form, it's unquestionably Bumrah, making Ashwin's blunt assessment simply accurate.
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