India’s numero uno Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian bowler to take a wicket at the T20 World Cup after Virat Kohli in 2016. Indian pace ace Bumrah bagged a brace of wickets in India’s eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Kane Williamson’s New Zealand on Sunday. Though Bumrah removed New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell, India failed to defend the below-par total of 110 in the 20-over contest at the Dubai International Stadium. 

With Kohli-led Team India losing both of their group games against arch-rivals Pakistan and Williamson’s New Zealand, the former world champions will remain under the pump in their third fixture of the ICC World T20 2021 on Wednesday. All eyes will be on Team India’s misfiring batting order as Kohli & Co. are still in pursuit of their first win of the showpiece event. 

While skipper Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma will lead the formidable batting attack of the T20 World Cup hosts against Afghanistan, pace ace Bumrah and speed merchant Mohammed Shami will spearhead the pace battery of the Asian giants. Bumrah, who picked up the first two wickets for India in the ongoing ICC World T20 2021 can also rewrite history at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.

Bumrah can surpass spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s meeting with Afghanistan at the ICC World T20 2021. Chahal, who was not named in India’s T20 World Cup squad, is the leading wicket-taker for the Asian giants. Chahal has bagged 63 wickets from 49 matches while pacer Bumrah is second in the elite list. The Indian pacer has taken 61 wickets from 52 matches for Team India.

Thus, Bumrah needs to take a three-wicket haul to become the all-time highest wicket-taker for India in the shortest format. India will have to register a convincing win over Afghanistan to keep their qualification hopes alive. With two defeats from two matches, Kohli & Co. are placed 5th in Group 2 of the ICC World T20 2021.