Afghanistan Have a Plan for Bumrah as First T20I Against India Gets Closer

There is no point pretending Jasprit Bumrah is just another bowler.

Afghanistan know that. And with the first T20I against India now only a day away, they have been thinking seriously about how they’re going to deal with him.

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his side have made specific plans for Bumrah and are hoping they can play better cricket against him when the series begins in Delhi.

That’s easier said than done, of course.

Bumrah has been back bowling with India’s squad in the nets, and his presence immediately changes the challenge Afghanistan’s batters are facing.

But Afghanistan aren’t coming into this series just to make up the numbers either.

They’ve become a side that can make life uncomfortable for the biggest teams, particularly in T20 cricket. And this series gives them another chance to show just how far they’ve come.

India have a few questions of their own.

There is competition for places at the top of the batting order, while Ishan Kishan also had a small injury scare during training. The encouraging news for India is that Navdeep Saini later said Kishan was fine and there was nothing to worry about.

So now most of the talking is nearly finished.

Afghanistan have their plans. India have home advantage. Bumrah is back in the middle of things.

On Sunday, we find out whether Afghanistan’s plan actually works.