Legendary India spinner Anil Kumble has insisted that Jasprit Bumrah should bowl the first over of the innings to Tim Seifert and Finn Allen during the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, March 8, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Kumble stated that there is no point in saving Bumrah for the latter stages of the New Zealand innings if Seifert and Allen come out of the blocks firing. India will need to get the wicket of the dynamic opening duo early if they want a chance to win the showpiece game and that is where Bumrah would come into play.
“Give Bumrah the first over itself, if you feel that is the match-up. Why save his overs? If Finn Allen and Tim Seifert start well, then New Zealand’s innings progresses well. So, it is important to dismiss them quickly. They have better numbers against Arshdeep and Hardik, so I think Bumrah has to bowl with the new ball,” Anil Kumble was quoted saying on ESPNcricinfo.
Seifert and Allen have already shown their opening prowess
Both Seifert and Allen played a crucial role in securing New Zealand’s safe passage into the T20 World Cup final. The pair forged a 117-run opening partnership from just 9.1 overs which helped the Kiwis overcome South Africa in the semi-final. Seifert was eventually dismissed for 58 but Allen continued the onslaught to score a hundred off just 33 balls.
Allen is currently the third-highest run-getter at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 26-year-old has scored 289 runs at an astronomical strike-rate of 203.52. He has also been averaging in the high 50s as well in the tournament.
Bumrah, on the other hand, also played a vital hand in making sure India play the final in Ahmedabad. The right-arm seamer bowled an incredible death over spell to stop England from chasing down 254 in their knockout game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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