Ponting predicts Bumrah replacement for India at Champions Trophy

ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has nominated Arshdeep Singh as the pacer that should receive the first opportunity to replace injured quick Jasprit Bumrah and partner Mohammed Shami with the new ball for India at the ICC Champions Trophy.

India suffered a huge blow to their title chances when they lost Bumrah to a back injury earlier this month and the Asian side have little time to settle on their preferred line-up ahead of their tournament opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

Inexperienced seamer Harshit Rana performed admirably during India's recent ODI series at home against England, but Ponting believes Arshdeep has done enough in the past at T20I level to get first crack with the new ball.

"I would go with the left-armer and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review.

"We know how good he's been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that's what India will miss.

"That's taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are.

"And just that left-arm variation, someone that can bowl left-arm with a new ball and move the new ball. We know how important they are and crucial they can be, especially in big tournaments when you've got a lot of right-handers at the top. I would personally lean that way if I was India."

Noting the positives for India from their recent outings against England, Ponting suggested the side have plenty of options in their 15-player squad.

“Harshit Rana's done more since he's come into the side. (Mohammed) Shami is fit too," Ponting noted.

“I think Hardik Pandya still has a big role to play on that side as well with the ball now to take a bit of the work away from what Bumrah can't do and make life a bit easier for Shami.”

“I think (Varun) Chakravarthy can have a huge impact on the tournament as well for India.

“He's probably pretty much through his career been pigeonholed as a T20 bowler only, but he's just with what he can do and his variations and his skill, I think he can have a huge impact on the Champions Trophy.”

Further elaborating on India’s selection conundrum, Ponting added, “I think we all felt that they were going to be one of the main dangers anyway. Even with Bumrah not being there, I mean, yes, it's very hard to replace someone like that. But if any team can do it with the amount of talent that the Indians have got, it might be them.”

As India breezed past England in the recently concluded ODI series, among the positives for the hosts was multiple batters getting in the groove.

While Shubman Gill finished top-scorer and Shreyas Iyer was vital in the anchor role, senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were also among the runs.

“It’s great to see Shreyas Iyer back in the team and playing well in the middle order. He was great," Ponting said.

“More importantly for India, (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) were back scoring runs and that's what they need going into big tournaments. Rohit, Virat, your experienced players, you need them to stand up in the big tournaments in the big moments. So, everything for India right now, with the exception of the loss of Bumrah, everything else looks in good order.”

Ponting also believes the momentum of India’s recent series win will help them going into the Champions Trophy.

“I mean, winning's a habit and to have that behind you, you can take some positives out of that," Ponting added.

“And that might sound a bit different than what I just said, because I said a loss doesn't have much of an impact, but when you're winning, that confidence can carry over.”