India breathed a side of relief as their final group stage game against Canada at Lauderhill, Florida after the game was abandoned without a ball being bowled owing to a wet outfield. It comes as a boon for Indian bowlers, especially for Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, two bowlers who are crucial for the team’s success in the T20 World Cup and cannot afford to get injured. With Rohit Sharma and co. setting their sights firmly on the Super 8 stage, the last thing that India can afford is an injury.
Why no show in Lauderhill is a boon for Bumrah, Pandya
A flash flood followed by incessant rain in the state of Florida interefered with most of the grop stage matches scheduled to be held at the Central Boward Regional Park Stadium. The wet outfield forced two games to be called off – PAK vs IRE and IND vs CAN. The efforts of the ground staff attempting to prepare the outfield for play went in vain, hinting at the lack of efficient facilities at the stadium.
It comes as a good news for India as their bowlers did not have to bowl in such perilious conditions. Primarily for India’s pace spearhead – Jasprit Bumrah. The ace speedster’s history of injuries is not unknown and it is in India’s best nature to not to take any risks when it comes to Bumrah. He was out for a long period of time in 2022-2023 after a lower back stress fracture, that he suffered primarily in 2019, resurfaced. He then underwent surgery in March 2023, and after four months of rehabilitation at National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Boom Boom finally made his comeback in August 2023. Ever since then, the management has treaded very carefully when it comes to his workload management.
In three games, he has taken five wickets so far in the T20 World Cup, showcasing why he is India’s best death over specialist.
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Hardik Pandya, who has made his comeback to international cricket in the ongoing tournament, was out of action for a significant period of time spanning from the ODI World Cup to the IPL. An ankle injury forced the all-rounder to stay off the field and deal with a gruelling recovery.
Such was the nature of the injury that Pandya never looked at his best while he bowled in the IPL, a sign that sent the alarm bells ringing for India. However, Pandya rediscovered his form with the ball and struck when India needed him the most. He has bagged 7 wickets in three games for the Men in Blue so far in T20 WC.
