Fast bowlers in India T20 WC squad
With World Cup 2024 is set to begin in 48 days, the fast bowler’s conundrum has still to be solved, which is India’s biggest difficulty in its quest for an ICC title.
India has not won any ICC event since 2013 Champions Trophy, and with the skipper is seeking an ICC trophy at any cost, the pacers’ unavailability and their out of forms is a cause of concern.
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Jasprit Bumrah – The only option?
India’s premium pacer, who is still lethal with his pace and accurate yorker is set to lead the Indian pace attack in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Bumrah, who missed the last T20 World Cup a couple of years back due to injury, has gained full fitness and is performing as per his standards in the ongoing IPL.
He is keeping himself in line to not just win the purple cap for most wickets, but also providing his side the much-needed calmness with ball on the batting friendly pitches.
Bumrah was part of the team that conceded the highest ever total in IPL 2024. Where every bowler went on to bowl with the economy of 11.5, Bumrah gave runs at 9 rpo.
The speedster also bagged a fifer against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the batting friendly Wankhede’s surface with a spell of 4-0-21-5, justifying his ability to deliver on the difficult bowling surfaces.
With Bumrah certain to be India’s first-choice fast bowler, the biggest question will partner him in the pace department for the T20 World Cup 2024.
No Shami, out of form Siraj
Mohammed Shami, who gave his all in the ODI World Cup 2023 and played the whole event with an ankle issue, will miss the upcoming T20 World Cup, as he is still recovering after a successful surgery.
And Siraj, who is playing for the side in most of the tours for last couple of years, has played only 10 T20Is for team India, in which he has taken 12 wickets at an economy of 8.78.
However, his current performance in IPL 2024 is not satisfactory, he has grabbed only 4 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 10.41.
Newcomers to complete the work?
With Shami not fit, and Siraj is out of form, all eyes are on newcomers.
Mayank Yadav, the 21-year-old, shocked the cricket fraternity with 155.7 kph delivery on his debut to help his side comeback from a game that seemed to be out of their hands, has emerged as the best option to be picked in India’s T20 squad for WC 2024.
Yadav touched the 156.7 mark in his second game and bowled another match winning spell for his side.
Apart from his quickers, Yadav’s consistent line and lengths are the factors, making him the best choice to include in India’s squad.
While LSG’s second pacer Mohsin Khan is also performing well, and batters are finding it hard to play against him. Khan can be a good option to travel with the Indian team to West Indies and USA for the marquee event.
What are the other options?
Arshdeep Singh is the best option as he is consistent and provides a variety of a left arm pacer, who can forget his first-ball dismissal of Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam at MCG in T20 World Cup 2022.
Singh has played 44 T20Is games for India so far and has grabbed 62 wickets at an economy of 8.63.
Avesh Khan is another pacer, performing well in ongoing IPL, and has also played for India in recent T20Is.
