By Avinash Kr Atish New Delhi, Sep 10 : After an unsuccessful campaign during the Asia Cup 2022, Indian cricket team must reconsider their approach, particularly in the bowling lineup which is not able to match the speed and penetration, prior to departing to Australia this month to play in the prestigious Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Asia Cup, in absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel The Indian fast bowlers appeared dull, lacking that vigor and killer instinct necessary to take advantage of crucial moments in an important game.When faced with slightly weaker opponents they did an adequate job, but when good batters put them under stress, they fell.
As always, the seasoned campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked deadly with the brand new ball in the Asia Cup except the one game against Sri Lanka.But, his poor performance in the 19th over in the two matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka (he leaked 19 and 14 runs) and cost India the game.
It’s no secret that Bhuvneshwar has grown as an effective death bowler over the course of time, and also earned successes both in IPL as well as at international level.However, the lack of pure speed is not enough to make him as dangerous as a player such as Bumrah which is an issue for India on real Australian pitches.
In his five-wicket haul against Afghanistan, Bhuvneshwar showed his ability with swing , but as a senior bowler he will be expected to offer wickets with old and new ball, without being a only one-dimensional.
However, the young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh also played very well in patches.He was precise with his lines and length in the final overs, but he does not have the speed that can rattle batters at the top of the order.
Additionally, Avesh Khan, who was India’s third pacer in the Asia Cup also had an ordinary season.Prior to being ruled out because of illness he was a part of both of India’s group stage matches in the Asia Cup but proved expensive by allowing 72 runs in six overs in the two games he played, and one for 53 in the 40-run win over Hong Kong.
His spot in the 15th and final group players for the World Cup is also in danger as of right now.
When Bumrah and Harshal get back to their best and fit, they’ll be the obvious option for the T20 World Cup and it is also believed that Arshdeep-Bhuvneshwar could be a part of the team.However there is no evidence that any of the bowlers, excluding Bumrah have a significant speed, which is vital on the bouncy pitch of Australia.
It is not a doubt that Harshal is a skilled bowler who uses his variations, slow ones, and cutters to entangle batters, but in the absence of speed, he could also be in the position to deliver big blows, like the Irish batsmen took a pound at him in Dublin (4-0-54-0) as well as the Sri Lankans in Dharamsala (4-0-52-1).
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and ex-India coach Ravi Shastri feel, India could add some speed in Indian team with the addition of Md Shami as well as Umran Malik.
“Where are you? Where is Umran malik (150km speed)? What is the reason Deepak Chahar (a top-quality swing bowler) was not there? Do you know if these players do not merit the chance? Why doesn’t Dinesh Karthik have chances regularly and consistently? It’s disappointing,” Harbhajan said in his tweet, following the loss of India to Sri Lanka.
“I am astonished to learn that Mohammed Shami has been sidelined by the current Indian team management as well as the selectors.The Indian bowling hasn’t been that efficient in this year’s Asia Cup and a veteran like Shami would have definitely been included in the team,” Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports.
“I was a bit surprised that you came to this place with only four speedy bowlers.You’d need that extra one.Someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home baffles me.In the aftermath of the IPL he was a part of, the reason the reason he wasn’t in the cut is evidently, I’m seeing something else,” he added.
It appears that both Shami and Umran aren’t in the plan of things of the momentous Indian management.The 32-year-old Shami has not had a single game in the T20I following India’s disastrous ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign in the UAE while Umran has played just three T20Is, allowing 112 runs and taking only two wickets.
Both fast bowlers could probably played more matches in the lead-up to the World Cup, if captain Rohit Shrma and coach Rahul Dravid had wanted to include them in the team.However, things are changing fast in India cricket, and it is possible to have the likes of Shami as well as Umran being able to participate in the forthcoming home game against Australia and South Africa before the mega event.
Shami experienced a memorable IPL 2022 season with the debutants Gujarat Titans, finishing the season with 20 wickets in 16 games, averaging 24.40 in the process of ensuring that the Titans won the trophy in their first season.Shami has also had an experience of playing in Australian conditions, which means he has an advantage in the pecking order.
The likes of Mohammed Siraj, Mohsin Khan and Prasidh Krishna also offer India other options for pace.
Therefore, it is going to be fascinating to observe the selection of the selectors Rohit and Dravid.One can say that India requires bowlers with speed to achieve the success they need in Australia.
They would also like plenty of variation in the Indian bowling attack , whether it’s speed or spin.pick their best team in accordance with the opposition team.
In the spin department is concerned Yuzvendra Chahal appears certain to play in the World Cup and with Ravindra Jadeja out with injury, Axar Patel in all likely will be in the field, due to of his versatility.
There isn’t any specifics on the potential of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav.
Veteran off-spinner Ashwin provides the batting depth, in addition to his bowling abilities, while Bishnoi as well as Kuldeep could be the X-factor with their distinct and unique abilities.
It also depends on the decision of India is keen to go to Australia with three spin options or four.
The most successful records and developments of T20 cricket indicate that the teams with an excellent bowling lineup have won the trophy most often in tournaments that span multiple nations.Therefore, India have a task to select their best bowling lineup for the Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia which is scheduled to take place next month.
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