Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the Men in Blue need to learn to win without the services of Jasprit Bumrah after a 2-1 series loss against England. Bumrah was ruled out of the third ODI at Lord’s due to a knee injury after playing in the first two games of the series.

Bumrah took two wickets in as many games of the series at an average of 38 and conceded his runs at a splendid economy rate of four.

Meanwhile, Indian bowlers were taken to the cleaners in the last three overs as they conceded 62 runs on Sunday as England posted an above-par score of 387 runs on the board. India also didn’t play Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, which came as a surprise.

There was no Hardik Pandya, and India’s bowling did look a bit toothless without Bumrah’s services.

“India has lost another series. I feel the most important factor and biggest issue was the bowling at the death. If we did better there, this game could have been something else. We have to learn to win without Bumrah. We need to learn to bowl without him, especially in the death overs. It is important for our bowlers to plan better,” Irfan Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Pathan said Bumrah is crucial in reading the pitch and passing on the knowledge to other bowlers.

“Bumrah is important because he gauges the right length in the very first over and communicates to the other bowlers, and they also follow him. That is why we also need to get used to playing without him. The way he got a niggle and sat out, this will happen in other games also, to manage things. This is why it is also the responsibility of the selectors to have backups ready, so that if he is injured, those who can bowl well at the death can play.”

Bumrah has all the experience, and his remaining injury-free will be crucial for India in the ODI World Cup.