Credit: BCCI
Jasprit Bumrah, effervescent and agile, always has that off time in his career where uncertainties run amok. And most recently, he's picked up an injury on account of a lack of workload management, which generally does tend to upset his otherwise smooth and rhythmic career. The fast bowling ace will not be participating in the upcoming Asia Cup for 2025 and these T20I contests will be really strange for India without their bowling ace, someone who was right on the money when in massively critical games such as the last T20 world cup final, Bumrah ran into a well-set South Africa at Barbados.
Fast and bouncy, agile and accurate, it's difficult to score off him but once injured, Bumrah's absence opens the gates for other prospect nominees to fill his spot. Right? Which 3 players can likely replace Jasprit Bumrah for Asia Cup 2025?
Here’s a look at three players who could replace Jasprit Bumrah if he misses the Asia Cup 2025:
1. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna is among the top picks heading into the Asia Cup for 2025 and he has plenty of T20 experience as well, having notably played a fine role in the emerging and formidable IPL side of Gujarat Titans. The Bangalore pacer, in red hot bowling form as seen in the recent Tests in England, has already picked 74 T20 IPL wickets from 66 games.
And he's bowled one shy of 1499 deliveries in the Indian Premier League. Where it comes to international T20I experience, his is largely a developing career with 5 games to his name. His ability to bowl consistently at good pace could serve India well in the Asia Cup 2025.
2. Mukesh Kumar
This may well be a surprise name to most of the readers or fans. Mukesh Kumar was first seen in action in any T20I for India in the United States where he emerged wicketless against the West Indies in 2023 from his spell of 3 overs, in which he conceded 24 runs.
Kumar otherwise is a good, consistent and reliable white ball asset for India as seen in his previous 17 games from which he's claimed 20 dismissals. Last year against Zimbabwe he was last seen in action and is yet to wear India's T20 jersey from that point in time. His T20I economy is 9 an over.
And now could be a good time to count on the promising 31-year-old who's also a regular in the IPL.
3. Arshdeep Singh
There's never really any dearth of excitement where it concers Arshdeep Singh, who sadly didn't get to play a single Test in England most recently despite having some, if not huge, County experience to his name and despite being with the Indian squad. But where it comes to T20I cricket, the tall Punjab pacer is one of the most proven and excellent matchwinning bowlers the side has. He's almost as if being the Tilak Varma with the white ball in a fast clean high arm action.
Arshdeep's prowess and promise make him an exciting option to pick now that the legendary Bumrah has been cast aside on account of being injured and it can be said that the Asia Cup could in fact be a landmark series for the bowler. How? From 63 T20I games for India, he's currently next to 99 wickets. You know what to expect next from the fine death overs specialist!
