‘Boom Boom’ Bumrah’s dominance with the ball is undeniable for all who have witnessed the same. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting would attest to the same, attesting to his belief that Bumrah will end the upcoming T20 World Cup as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
Bumrah had missed the 2022 edition of the tournament in Australia due to a back injury which later needed surgery.
But this time around, the pacer comes in as a rejuvenated and different animal, on the back of a personally successful showcase with the Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2024, where he scalped 20 wickets in 13 games for Mumbai Indians, at an astonishing economy rate of 6.48.
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“My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah. I just think an outstanding performer, contributor for a number of years now. He’s just come off an outstanding IPL. What he can do with the new ball, he swings the new ball, he has the seam up,” Ponting expounded on the ICC Review show.
“But at the end, his economy rate at the end of the IPL was less than seven runs an over. He takes wickets. He does bowl a lot of the hard overs too. When you bowl the hard overs in T20 cricket, it gives you a chance to pick up a lot of wickets along the way. So, I’m going with him,” added Ponting.
Ponting then pivoted to talk about how would establish dominance with the bat. And for the former Australia skipper, the answer was easy: Travis Head.
Head, who was also the Player of the Match in last year’s ODI World Cup final, wreaked havoc with the bat in the IPL 2024 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, striking fear and a bountiful 567 runs in 15 matches at an explosive strike-rate of 191.55.
“My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head. I just think everything he’s done, whether it be red-ball or white-ball in the last couple of years, has been of the highest quality. I think he’s playing fearless cricket at the moment.
Head though had a rough end to his campaign at the IPL, following back-t0-back ducks in the Qualifier 2 and the IPL final. But, Ponting is of the belief that the swashbuckling opener will find his mojo again and rebound better than before.
“His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it’s been good, it’s been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team. And it’ll be exactly the same for Australia – so, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament.
“But he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I’ve said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he’ll win more games than ever,” added Ponting.
Australia will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Group B opponents Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 5. whilst India play their first game of the competition on the same day, against Ireland at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.
Stay updated with the latest from T20 World Cup 2024. Explore T20 World Cup Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest-run getters and Highest Wicket-Takers In T20 World Cup 2024. Check T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours , Most Fifties And Most HundredsIn T20 World Cup 2024.
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