T20 World Cup: There is no like-for-like replacement possible for Jasprit Bumrah

 A tournament that India hasn't managed to conquer since the inaugural edition in 2007. A tournament in which the last outing ended in a heartbreaking group stage exit for the Men in Blue, marking the first instance in 9 years of India not playing in the semi-finals of an ICC tournament. And now a tournament where India won't have the services of their number one bowler - Jasprit Bumrah. In the space of less than a month Team India was dealt two big blows - first key all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out and then came the Bumrah blow.

Injuries and sports go hand in hand. The trouble though is that though Jadeja's absence can be masked (especially if someone like Axar Patel, who is a like-for-like replacement for Jadeja performs well), there is no one who can be a like-for-like replacement for Bumrah.

This was a sentiment that was echoed by former Australian cricketer Shane Watson as well.
"If you ask me a possible like-for-like replacement for Bumrah, there is none. There's no one really in the world. He is just that incredibly skillful. Whether it's with a brand-new ball, whether it's in the death overs, he's got an amazing skill. And that's the reason he's done such an incredible job for India as well. So, there's no like-for-like replacement (possible)," Watson told in an interview.

Bumrah was officially ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a back injury on October 3. As per the BCCI, the decision was taken following a detailed assessment and in consultation with specialists.
Bumrah was initially ruled out of the three-match T20I series against South Africa, which India won 2-1, with a back injury. BCCI's medical team ruled out Bumrah from the mega event a day before the third and final T20I against the Proteas.
India is yet to name an official replacement for Bumrah for the T20 World Cup.
In Bumrah's absence, the role that the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, who are part of the World Cup squad, will play becomes much more important. Though Bhuvi is quite experienced, there is no fast-bowling spearhead as such. Mohammed Shami, from the stand-by list, is the favorite to be named the official replacement for Bumrah. But Shami himself hasn't been a 100% and missed the home series vs Australia and South Africa with a bout of COVID-19.