"Without Bumrah, India's bowling is zero" - Junaid Khan slams Men in Blue after ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka
Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan has slammed Team India's bowling attack after they went down to Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series. Rohit Sharma and company lost 2-0 - their first series loss against the Lankans since 1997.
Spinners from both teams dominated the entire series. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers were more effective as they bundled out India on all three occasions. The Men in Blue bowlers, on the other hand, struggled to find a similar bite and allowed the Lankan batters to build partnerships.
Junaid called out the Indian bowling attack, saying it is toothless without ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah. He also asked fans whether they agreed with his comments or not.
Taking to X, the former left-arm pacer wrote:
"Would you agree? Without Bumrah, india's bowling is zero... #INDvSL #SLVSIND."
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the entire white-ball series against Sri Lanka after a tiring 2024 T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies and the USA. The right-arm pacer emerged as the Player of the Tournament, leading India's pace attack from the front with 15 wickets at a stunning average of 8.26.
In his absence, the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh failed to make an impact against Sri Lanka. The latter was even left out of the playing XI from the final game to accommodate an extra spinner in Riyan Parag.
India surrender against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series
After beating the Men in Blue in the three-match T20Is, Rohit Sharma and company were touted as favorites to win the ODIs. More so because they haven't lost a bilateral series against the Lankans since 1997.
Leading 1-0 heading into the final game, the hosts opted to bat first after winning the toss. Led by Avishka Fernando's 96, they posted 248 runs in 50 overs.
In reply, the Men in Blue got off to a flier but crumbled once the spinners came into the fray. They were eventually bundled out for 138, losing the game by 110 runs.