India are set to return to Test cricket with a challenging two-match series against Sri Lanka, beginning on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium. With both teams looking to strengthen their position in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, anticipation is building ahead of the opening Test. The second match will be played in Colombo from August 23.
For India, the series presents an opportunity to bounce back after their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in their previous Test assignment. However, the visitors will have to manage a major concern in the bowling department, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ruled out because of a left-knee injury.
That absence has opened the door for other pacers to shoulder greater responsibility, and former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes one relatively inexperienced Indian seamer could make a major difference.
Farveez Maharoof names India’s X-factor in absence of Jasprit Bumrah
Maharoof has backed Gurnoor Brar to emerge as India’s X-factor during the Test series. The former Sri Lankan cricketer was particularly impressed by the 26-year-old’s ability to generate pace and bounce and believes those qualities could make him a difficult proposition for Sri Lankan batters. While Mohammed Siraj is expected to spearhead India’s pace attack in Bumrah’s absence, Maharoof feels there is still a noticeable difference between the two fast bowlers, particularly when it comes to reverse swing with the older ball.
“The ability to reverse-swing the ball, especially with the older ball, is something Bumrah brings, and that is going to be a massive miss for India. That is where I think they could lack some wicket-taking ability,” Maharoof said during a virtual media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
“Siraj is a good bowler, with all due respect to him, but when you compare the two fast bowlers, there is a bit of a difference,” he added.
However, Maharoof believes Brar could offer India something different. The tall Punjab pacer has already made an impression in Sri Lanka, taking a remarkable 10 wickets in an unofficial Test for India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle.
“I really like Gurnoor Brar. I think he can be the X-factor. He has the bounce, the pace and the fighting spirit. He can be nasty. If I were in the Indian think tank, I would be tempted to give Gurnoor a go. I know he has only played white-ball cricket for India, but he brings that X-factor. In short, burst spells, when you want to break a batter’s rhythm, he can be a lethal weapon,” Mahroof explained.
How is India’s bowling attack shaping for Sri Lanka Tests?
India’s pace attack faces a stern examination without Bumrah. Siraj is likely to take the lead, while Prasidh Krishna, Brar and Auqib Nabi provide additional options. Nabi earned his maiden Test call-up after Bumrah was ruled out of the tour. The concern is that India’s seamers lack the same level of proven Test experience and match-winning influence that Bumrah brings. His ability to reverse the older ball and produce breakthroughs on relatively flat subcontinental surfaces will be particularly difficult to replace.
That could force captain Shubman Gill and the team management to use their quicks in aggressive, short spells rather than relying on prolonged spells. Gill himself recently resumed batting after recovering from a finger injury suffered during practice, providing a boost ahead of the first Test. At the same time, India possess considerable strength in spin. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to play key roles, while Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain provide further options.
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