Team India need multi-faceted bowling line-up for T20 WC
NEW DELHI: Ater a disappointing campaign at the Asia Cup 2022, Indian cricket team needs to rethink their strategy especially in the bowling lineup, which is lacking sheer pace and penetration, before leaving for Australia next month for the all important Men’s T20 World Cup.
At the Asia Cup, in absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, the Indian fast bowlers looked flat, lacked that penetration and killer instinct — required to seize crucial moments in a big game. Against slightly weaker opponents, they seemed to do a decent job but when quality baters put them under pressure, they faltered.
As always, the experienced campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked lethal with the new ball in the Asia Cup except the one game against Sri Lanka. But, his poor outing in the 19th over in the two consecutive games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka (he leaked 19 and 14 runs), cost India the game.
There is no doubt that Bhuvneshwar has evolved as a death bowler over a period of time and also fetched success both in IPL and at the international level. But, the lack of pure pace does not make him as feared as someone like Bumrah, which will be a worry for India on true Australian pitches.
During his five-wicket haul against Afghanistan, Bhuvneshwar showed his mastery with swing but as a senior bowler, he is expected to provide wickets with both new and old ball without being onedimensional. On the other hand, young let-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh also did well in patches. He was accurate with his length and lines in the death overs but he also doesn’t have that pace which can ratle baters at the tops.
Meanwhile, Avesh Khan, who was India’s third pacer in the Asia Cup also had an ordinary campaign. Before being out due to illness, he played both of India’s group-stage games in the Asia Cup but proved expensive, conceding 72 runs across six overs in the two games he played, including 1 for 53 in the 40-run win against Hong Kong. His place in the final 15 for the World Cup is also in danger as of now.
Once Bumrah and Harshal get fit, they will be the automatic choice for the T20 World Cup and it also seems that Arshdeep-bhuvneshwar will also be part of the squad. However, none of these bowlers except Bumrah have serious pace, which is crucial on bouncy pitches of Australia. No doubt, Harshal is a craty bowler, who relies on his variations, slower ones, cuters to trap baters but in the absence of pace, he could also be lined up for big blows, like when the Irish batsmen tore into him in Dublin (4-054-0), or the Sri Lankans in Dharamsala (4-0-52-1).
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and ex-india coach Ravi Shastri feel, India can add some quality pace in Indian squad with the inclusion of Md Shami and Umran Malik.
“Where is Umran malik (150km speed)? Why Deepak Chahar (a top quality swing bowler) wasn’t there? Tell me if these guys don’t deserve the chances?? Why don’t Dinesh Karthik get chances consistently?? Disappointing,” Harbhajan said in his tweet, ater India’s loss to Sri Lanka.
“I am completely amazed to see how Mohammed Shami has been sidelined by the current Indian team management and the selectors. The Indian bowling hasn’t looked that effective in this year’s Asia Cup and a veteran like Shami should have certainly made it to the squad,” Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports.