NEW DELHI: India's bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, expressed his satisfaction on Thursday with the reintegration of Jasprit Bumrah into the team's pace arsenal, providing a significant boost as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup next month.
Bumrah made his return to the Indian squad during the recent tour of Ireland, marking a triumphant comeback after a prolonged injury absence. His remarkable intensity and performance have continued to impress during the ongoing Asia Cup.
"We have been following Bumrah's progress from the NCA, and we are very happy with the report that we have got.
"Now, we have four quality bowlers, and it is always great to have those options. The problem of plenty is always good," Mhambrey said ahead of India's final Super 4 match against Bangladesh on Friday.
1/10:The Hitman’s Classics: 5 most memorable ODI innings by Rohit Sharma
2/10:264 vs SL (2014)
<p>The current skipper of the Indian team, Rohit Sharma displayed one of the most tireless batting performances in ODI cricket history. The “Hitman” smashed the Lankan bowlers all over the Eden Gardens for a mammoth 264.<br /></p>
3/10:264 vs SL (2014)
<p>This innings was also the 2nd highest List-A score behind Ali Brown’s 268. Rohit’s knock included 33 fours and 9 sixes and he also became the first-ever batter to score 250 in ODI cricket.<br /></p>
4/10:208 vs SL (2017)
<p>Three years later, Rohit again smashed the Lankan bowlers and scored his 3rd double-hundred in ODIs.<br /></p>
5/10:208 vs SL (2017)
<p>This knock of 208 included 13 fours & 12 sixes out of which 10 sixes were hit in the final six overs. Mohali witnessed one of the most entertaining knocks in cricketing history.<br /></p>
6/10:209 vs AUS (2013)
<p>In the 2013 series decider against the Aussies, the Chinnaswamy stadium witnessed one of the greatest batting displays of all time. After India lost Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit soaked up all the pressure.<br /></p>
7/10:209 vs AUS (2013)
<p>Once he got to his second hundred in the series, he shifted gears and went on a rampage. He reached his maiden ODI double century in the penultimate over of the Indian innings with a six over cover off Clint McKay's delivery, bringing up his second hundred of the game off just 42 deliveries.<br /></p>
8/10:171 vs AUS (2016)
<p>Rohit started 2016 with a bang on a pacy WACA pitch.<br /><br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:171 vs AUS (2016)
<p>In the series against Australia, Rohit scored 441 runs in 5 innings at an average of 110. He was unstoppable, scoring 2 centuries and one 99. Though India lost the game, it showed Rohit’s calibre on tough pacy pitches.<br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:141 vs AUS (2013)
<p>Australia put up a mammoth score of 360 in the second ODI against India in 2013. Rohit and Dhawan started off brilliantly and struck a partnership of 176. Once Dhawan was dismissed, Virat Kohli took the attack to the bowlers.<br /></p>However, India's first-choice pace attack is now centred around Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya, forcing the management to bench Mohammed Shami.
"It's not very easy to drop someone like Shami. The experience that he has and the performance that he has done for the country is phenomenal. It's never easy to have that kind of a conversation (dropping a player)," he said.
Mhambrey said while it was a difficult choice, the player concerned has been conveyed clearly about the team decision.
"But we are clear in the way we have gone about the conversation with the players and they have shown confidence in us.
"Players know any decision that we take and they know that it is for the benefit of the team," said Mhambrey.
The former India pacer was also delighted to see the strides Pandya has taken as a bowler in recent times.
"I am very happy with the way Hardik has shaped up, something that we have worked on for a long time. We have been managing his workload, making sure that he is fit and able to achieve what we expect out of him.
"Once he hits 140 kmph he is a different bowler. From the team perspective it's a wicket-taking option that we have," added Mhambrey.
1/10:Top-5: Most partnership runs by an Indian pair in ODIs
2/10:Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly
<p>This legendary opening pair was known for its consistent and prolific partnership at the top of the order. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly were a formidable duo and played a crucial role in India's ODI success.<br /></p>
3/10:Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly
<p>The pair together made 8227 ODI runs in 176 innings at an average of 47.55 with a highest partnership of 258.<br /><br /><br /></p>
4/10:Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
<p>Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan formed a formidable opening partnership for India in ODIs over the years. As an opening pair they were known for their explosive starts and have consistently provided strong platforms for the team.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
<p>In 117 innings, Rohit and Shikhar notched up 5193 ODI runs together at an average of 45.15 with a highest partnership of 210.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
6/10:Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
<p>This prolific partnership is one of the most successful in ODI history. <br /><br /></p>AP
7/10:Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
<p>The two star batters have so far accumulated 5008 partnership runs in just 86 innings at an average of 61.82. Their highest partnership has been 246. Rohit and Kohli in fact became the fastest to get to 5k partnership runs (86 stands) going past Greenidge and Haynes (97).<br /></p>IANS
8/10:Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag
<p>Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were a dynamic opening pair known for their aggressive style of play. They provided explosive starts to the Indian team and had several big partnerships.<br /></p>
9/10:Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag
<p>In 114 innings, Tendulkar and Sehwag accumulated 4387 ODI runs together as a batting pair at an average of 39.16 with a highest stand of 182.<br /></p>
10/10:Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly
<p>Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid formed another highly successful ODI pair for India. Ganguly's aggressive batting style complemented Dravid's solidity, resulting in many fruitful partnerships.<br /></p>Mhambrey also said the Indian team has undertaken the process of developing the bowling skills of some batsmen, so that they have more options to choose from when needed.
Tilak Varma features prominently in that scheme.
"“I have been working with Tilak since his U-19 days. We were in South Africa and we realised he has bowling skills. We are working on it consistently.
"If the captain gets confidence that he can bowl one over and deliver, this one over can turn into two overs. But it depends on circumstances where we need that extra bowler," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
