2 players who could replace Jasprit Bumrah if he misses IND vs USA clash in T20 World Cup 2026

Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s pace attack in the T20 World Cup 2026.

India are set to start their stint in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday (February 7) with the clash against the USA. The IND vs USA encounter will take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The Suryakumar Yadav & Co. are placed in Group A in the tournament. The USA, Pakistan, Netherlands, and Namibia are the other three teams in their pool. Due to a strong set of players and the home advantage, India are among the favourites to win the title.

Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s pace attack in the tournament. While Arshdeep Singh is another key pacer for the side, Bumrah’s experience and death-over expertise will be helpful in crucial games. However, the right-arm pacer is likely to miss the opening game against the USA.

As per reports, Bumrah is suffering from viral fever and did not participate in the training sessions ahead of the clash. Hence, the Indian team management might rest him in the opening game as they do not want to take any risks with Bumrah just at the start of the tournament.

On that note, below are two players who could replace Bumrah in the playing XI if he misses the IND vs USA clash.

2. Mohammed Siraj

Following Harshit Rana’s ouster from India’s squad due to a knee injury ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Mohammed Siraj has been named as a replacement. Although Siraj last played a T20I game back in July 2024, he has been a consistent performer in the other two formats.

Moreover, Siraj also owns a marvellous record and extensive experience at home grounds. Also, being a right-arm pacer, he is a like-for-like replacement for Bumrah.

1. Kuldeep Yadav

Since the conditions at Wankhede Stadium are known to support spinners, India can also induct Kuldeep Yadav to the playing XI in Bumrah’s absence. With a left-right combination in the spin unit with Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, the Men-in-Blue can attack with more variation in their bowling.

Notably, India already have seam all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube in the playing XI, who can lend a hand in the pace department with Arshdeep Singh. This allows them to add an extra spinner.

Although Kuldeep struggled to make a mark in the recent T20I series against New Zealand, he performed wonderfully last year with 21 scalps in 10 games at an economy of 7.04 and an average of 10.23. He also captured a four-wicket haul in one encounter.

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