As Bangladesh prepares to face India in the Super 8s match of the T20 World Cup 2024, legendary West Indies player Brian Lara has shared some invaluable advice with the team. The match is set to take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on June 22, Saturday. A key focus for Bangladesh will be India’s star speedster, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been a standout performer in the tournament so far.

Bumrah: The vital cog in India’s unbeaten run

Jasprit Bumrah has been instrumental in India’s success in the ICC event, showcasing his exceptional skills and consistency. With 8 wickets in 4 matches and an economy rate of less than four runs per over, Bumrah has established himself as a formidable force. His standout performances include winning the Player of the Match award against Pakistan, where he claimed 3 wickets, and delivering the most economical spell by an Indian bowler in T20 World Cup history against Afghanistan, conceding just seven runs while taking three wickets to secure a 48-run victory for India.

” They don’t have to go against Jasprit Bumrah…”

Recognizing Bumrah’s prowess, Brian Lara hailed him as a world-class bowler and even jokingly suggested that he should join the West Indies team. However, his advice to the Bangladesh team was more serious.

“I’ll put you down on it. I think Jasprit Bumrah, obviously, is a world-class bowler. He is the best bowler in the world, but there are quite a few. I think I mentioned it a couple of days ago that if he wants to stay in the Western east, we can organise a passport, he can organise a place for him to stay, and he can play for the West Indies in the rest of a few years, you know, but just a humour I think he is world-class,” Lara told Star Sports.

Lara emphasized the importance of not attempting to take on Bumrah aggressively if they aim to score runs. Instead, he recommended a more strategic approach, acknowledging Bumrah’s exceptional talent and placing him in the same league as some of the legendary fast bowlers of cricket history. Lara’s guidance underscores the need for Bangladesh to play cautiously and respect the skill of one of the game’s finest bowlers.

“I think what other players or other batters or other captains and managers, and you just have to do is understand that they don’t have to go against Jasprit Bumrah. If Bangladesh want to succeed against India, they can’t go after him. It’s as simple as that. If you do, you’re going to bury yourself.

“And he’s that good, and you know, it will trigger your patch bonus like that. The McGraths, the Ambros, Wasim Akram, he’s just one of those top class bowlers that are going to go down in history as one of the greats. Then you want to try and take him out and that’s the opera,” Lara added.

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As Bangladesh gears up for this crucial encounter, following Lara’s advice could prove to be a crucial factor in their performance against a dominant Indian side led by the indomitable Jasprit Bumrah.