Pulkit narang

T20 World Cup: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is like a Kohinoor diamond for the national team, adding that being entrusted with the responsibility of captaincy will increase the risk of him being injured. Bumrah previously led India as a stand-in captain during the rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston in 2022, when regular skipper Rohit Sharma was out due to COVID-19 infection.

He also guided India to a 2-0 series victory in a three-match T20I series against Ireland last year, where he made a comeback post a layoff of 11 months due to a serious back injury.

“Bumrah is calm, cool, and has good maturity. But him being a fast bowler, how we can play him in all three formats? That is the biggest question selectors would have had. For a fast bowler like Bumrah, his fitness needs to be monitored and he needs to be protected as a player and only made to play in important matches.”