The ICC T20 world cup is about to kick off from the 16th of March and there is huge excitement and hysteria surrounding the same. A lot of curiosity and speculation centers on the state of the Indian bowling contingent and its performance in recent times. Even skipper MS Dhoni has blamed the poor bowling performance of his team for the losses abroad. While the batsmen have also come a cropper on bouncy and fast wickets abroad, the bowlers have given away runs in almost every game. Even in the ongoing Asia Cup, the Indian bowlers are not performing as well as expected with bowling failures leading to avoidable losses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Will the Indian bowling unit live up to expectations this Twenty20 world cup? This mainly depends on how they perform in the remaining matches of the Asia Cup as they will be playing in similar conditions. Bangladesh is hosting both the Asia Cup and the T20 world cup and the Indian bowlers should get used to the unpredictable Bangladeshi pitches before the more important tournament begins. When it comes to the quality of the bowling attack, only Shami Ahmed stands out for his sheer consistency. Shami can generate decent pace and his ability to stick to a good line and length along with a good swing action augurs well for the team. Shami has always been the only wicket taker in recent times and will be India’s most viable asset for the tournament.
However, Shami has a tendency to leak runs, one that must be avoided if he is to perform to his full potential. Apart from Shami, the entire bowling attack lacks the tooth and bite required for combating other global competitors successfully. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is another mainstay of the bowling attack but has done little in recent times. He has been leaking runs and has not been getting adequate movement. Bhuvneshwar should be used judiciously by the captain instead of letting him finish seven to eight overs in a go. Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron are rampantly inconsistent and can give away runs at crucial junctures. However, Ishant has shown promise in recent times and can be a good bet if selected.
Alongside, Amit Mishra should definitely be given a look-in instead of Ravichandran Ashwin who has been ineffective to say the least in recent times. Mishra bowled well in the one match he was given against Pakistan after warming the benches for many of India’s tours. Ashwin should better his performance to stand a chance of selection. Alongside, Ravindra Jadeja is a useful addition to the fifth bowler’s position. He has been generally consistent and represents a handy bowling option. Stuart Binny has not really been tested yet and he should be given a game or two where he can harness his potential to the fullest.
Cheer for India with cool sporting equipment, fitness gear and autographed team merchandise. One can only hope that the Indian team overcomes its limitations and delivers at the Twenty20 world cup!
No comments:
Post a Comment