Shimron Hetmyer from the West Indies faces a new challenge as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah return

The West Indian cricket player Shimron Hetmyer during a practice before the third international match of a day against India in Pune. (Photo PTI)

"LARA SAARKHA disto but Gayle saarkha maarto." (Looks like Lara, but it looks like Gayle.) The description that Shimron Hetmyer gave to his colleagues at MCA Stadium in Pune may not have been very accurate. Hetmyer strikes the ball far and he easily dropped 20 rows back with every shot on Friday. But now, Indian cricket fans have seen the young Guyanese drummer in only two games to know he really looks like an old West Indian left-winger. But it's not Lara. It's more like modern-day Keith Arthurton, at least when he wears the cap.

The "Full of Life" Hetmyer was the life of the Windies workout on the eve of the third ODI. When he did not hit them like Chris Gayle, he dribbled a ball past his teammates and created goal chances – though his team needed a calm and almost unmistakable goal from veteran Marlon Samuels to score a goal.

With his batting relay, Hetmyer challenged coach Nic Pothas. And long after the other Indians left the field, the latest Caribbean hitting sensation was still there, sitting sideways, giving an interview to the official broadcasters.

This is the Hetmyer series after all. Yes, Virat Kohli scored the usual two tons in both games, and India leads 1-0 after the tied match in Visakhapatnam. And it's Shai Hope, whose century has brought visitors to a single pbad of their first tour win. But it was Hetmyer's brutal attack of 64 balls that allowed the striker to run after an early stutter. As if it was his 106 off 78 at Guwahati that pushed the Windies total to the 300 mark, after another stutter. What he also did – after some shocking dismissals in the Tests – is to make sure that the ODIs were much more competitive than expected, starting with the West Indians themselves.

Bumrah, Bhuvi back

There will, however, be a major difference from this. As the Windies return to coach Stuart Law in the locker room after a two-game suspension, India welcomes its first quick-jumpers to the limit, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. That's not to say that Hetmyer & Co. struggled to face Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav – who tormented them in the trials – but they have certainly held up well over the past week.

Law, his team forced the hand of India to bring back Bumrah and Kumar. Maybe there is some truth. But it is more likely that India would have brought them back anyway, as preparations for the World Cup are underway. With their pacers in the mix and Ambati Rayudu confirming the No. 4 spot at each outing, India will participate with its almost complete eleven playing Pune on Saturday. The only missing cog, of course, is Hardik Pandya, injured, who has recently become the third worker of the last 50 years.

HOT DEALS

Bumrah and Kumar will face tougher challenges with the ball, for sure. Their lengths will be much more precise, which will allow Hetmyer not to be comparable to this day in this series. Meanwhile, Bumrah will bring an extra pace and penetration that was lacking in the Indian attack on Hetmyer's carnage. The MCA stadium was once one of the first six-stroke Indian sites, but the pitch was slower and drier at the IPL, allowing Chennai Super Kings players to play a lot more on their home turf. 'adoption. This should suit the Indian spin trio, and it will be much harder to crush them over the barrier, as Hetmyer did.

The young Guyanese has shown enough talent to overcome anything that could happen to him or, like his coach. said: "do not be afraid" of the real test that awaits us. And if it does, it could not only attract much more cheering and prestigious comparisons, but could also give West Indians more reasons to smile.

For all the latest sports information, download the Indian Express App