India's 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal wants Indian cricket team management to forget premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and 'leave him out of the equation'. The legendary all-rounder believes Bumrah is out for the long run and in his absence, senior pacer Umesh Yadav can be the perfect replacement in India's Test squad for World Test Championship (WTC) Final in England, provided Rohit Sharma & Co. qualify for the marquee event by defeating Australia in fourth and final Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad.
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29-year-old Bumrah hasn't been in action since last six months and will not just miss the World Test Championship final in June but also the 2023 season of Indian Premier League (IPL) and remains doubtful for ODI World Cup 2023 in October, set to be hosted in India. In the next few days, Bumrah is expected to fly to New Zealand to undergo surgery for his back injury.
"They will take Umesh [to WTC final]. There you need at least 3 pacers to only one spinner might play and the rest will be fast bowlers. Bumrah ko ab bhool jao. Usko chhor dijiye aap (Forget Bumrah. Leave him out of the equation). When Bumrah returns, we will see then. Use whatever you have. What is the guarantee? No wonder when he will return - maybe 1 to 1.5 years. He has not played in so long. It means his injury his very serious," Madan Lal said on Sports Tak, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Lal asserted there is no guarantee that fans will get to see the same Jasprit Bumrah when he makes a comeback as he hasn't been in action for last six months.
"At max, an injury takes 3 months to heal and he hasn't played since September - even Hardik Pandya was able to return in 4 months post his back surgery - and Bumrah hasn't played since 6 months. So how can you expect that this will be the same Bumrah that we have seen so far. It will take him time. If you want to see the same Bumrah, you will have to give him time," mentioned the former India all-rounder.