Tom Moody picks Jasprit Bumrah as the key player for India’s success at World Cup 2023

As India announced their squad for the upcoming World Cup, there were expert opinions pouring in from all over the globe on the skeleton of the 15-member unit. One of the latest additions to this list was that of former Australia cricketer Tom Moody, who believes that two bowlers are going to be the key for the Men in Blue in the upcoming quadrennial extravaganza.

India included four seamers in the squad featuring the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur to get the job done for them in the austere bowling conditions in the Indian sub-continent.

Talking about the Indian pace battery and the fitness concerns that have really plagued the Indian team, Moody said, “I think a lot of it depends on the fitness and longevity of Bumrah. I think he holds such an important key for India because he has such high quality and impacts the game early and also closes the innings.”

He further added, “And I see that it's basically going to be a difficult World Cup with regards to making sure that you keep your bowlers fit. It’s a long campaign, but India certainly has got diversity in their side. It’s just the case of them making sure they have their key players fit, particularly their bowlers.”

He concluded by shedding some light on how Thakur and Hardik Pandya’s middle-overs can be crucial in defining the game for Indians, stating, “Yes, I think they have a side that’s good enough to win the World Cup. I think home advantage will be a big one for India, but I bring that point around fitness. The fitness of Bumrah and Shami is absolutely key to me as both of them are high-quality new ball bowlers.”