As the deadline for the announcement of the T20 World Cup provisional squad approaches, the Indian think tank has a tough ask to select the best 15-member squad from the available pool. While the race for the openers slot is heating up with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal making a late push, the Indian team management will have a hard time selecting the fast bowlers’ bunch to take to the USA, and the West Indies for the T20 World Cup 2024.
In the 2022 edition, India did not have the services of Jasprit Bumrah, and in his absence, Mohammad Shami was India’s spearhead. This time around, Shami is unavailable due to an injury, and Bumrah will be the leader of the attack. But who will be his support cast? Let’s take a look at the contenders.
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Based on the form of the young Indian pacer in the IPL 2024, it will be a tough choice for Ajit Agarkar, Rohit Sharma, and Rahul Dravid, as this season, bowlers have been taken apart. Frankly, there have not been any standout fast bowlers – barring Jasprit Bumrah – in the league, either from the overseas contingent or the Indians. But a few names are leading the race to seal their places in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
India’s T20 World Cup Squad Fast Bowlers India Can Choose From
Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammad Siraj, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Harshal Patel, Mohit Sharma, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Yash Thakur, Yash Dayal, Mohsin Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Deepak Chahar
Bumrah has been in terrific form this IPL season and leads the Purple Cap tally with 13 wickets. While leggie Yuzvendra Chahal and 2022 T20 World Cup squad member Harshal Patel also have 13 wickets each, Bumrah stands out with his economy rate of 6.37. Chahal and Patel have leaked runs at over 8.50 runs per over.
Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed Make a Case for the Playing XI
Arshdeep Singh has been, in recent memory, India’s significant investment for the future in the T20 format. The Indian international has also done decently well in the opportunities given to him. In IPL 2024, even though he has ten wickets to his name and is 13th on the Purple Cap tally, his incisiveness with the new ball and with the left-arm angle could have been better. He has leaked runs at 9.40 runs per over.
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Another left-armer who could pip Singh in the playing XI is Khaleel Ahmed, who seemed to have gone out of favour with the selectors but is doing reasonably well for his franchise, Delhi Capitals, in IPL 2024. He also has ten wickets to his name but with a better economy than Arshdeep (9.03). However, Arshdeep has a better strike rate and average with the ball than Khaleel. Regarding experience, India may eventually settle with Arshdeep as Bumrah’s deputy in the fast bowling department.
Another player who has been on the fringes for India is Avesh Khan. Having played 8 ODIs and 20 T20Is, Avesh could be one of the picks for the selectors even though he, too, has been having a forgettable IPL 2024. He is 23rd in the Purple Cap list with eight wickets in eight matches, giving away runs at 9.41.
Who is India’s Best Backup Fast Bowler Option – Do Mohammad Siraj and Mukesh Kumar merit a place?
With Hardik Pandya as the seam-bowling option, India will likely only field two frontline pacers in the XI. There could also be a possibility of Bumrah being the lone specialist pacer if India opts to pack their XI with spinners. Then, in the 15-member squad, India will have the option of taking only one backup pacer. Khaleel could be that bowler. But beyond that, if we look at the contenders. Mohammad Siraj’s name stands out, but only in terms of experience because the Hyderabad bowler has been having a horrid tournament with the ball. He only has five wickets in seven matches for RCB, leaking runs at 10.34 and a very high strike rate of 31.20. In terms of numbers, he is 44th in the Purple Cap list, way behind even the likes of Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Sen, Umesh Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Yash Dayal and Tushar Deshpande. There is no place for Siraj in the 15, but when it comes to experience, Siraj could get a place. Mukesh Kumar, who is touted as India’s next Shami has also flattered to deceive this IPL season but seems to be one of the selectors’ favourites.
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Old War-horses Harshal Patel and Mohit Sharma in the Mix?
Talking about the experience, Harshal Patel and Mohit Sharma sure have that under their belt. Mohit was part of India’s 2015 ODI World Cup campaign, while Harshal, because a couple of very good IPL seasons, made it to the 2022 T20 World Cup squad. Patel was a big disappointment in the previous edition, while Mohit has had a resurgence of sorts with Gujarat Titans in the last two years. Going back to your tried and tested, and dare I say, discarded players might be a considerable risk, but the management may be prompted to deleberate about these two pacers when they sit to pick the 15. With 13 wickets, Patel is third on the Purple Cap list, while Mohit is 12th with ten wickets.
Will Indian selectors Gamble on Rookies? – Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Yash Thakur
From the current crop of young fast bowlers, Harshit Rana has been able to hold his own this season, while Mayank Yadav made huge waves with his express pace with two back-to-back Player of the Match awards. But injury concerns for Yadav make him a very, very risky proposition. Rana, though, is moving up the ranks, and with the faith KKR has put in the young Delhi bowler by handing him tricky overs to bowl, he has shown the potential that could entice the selectors to make a left-field call and pick him. Vidarbha’s Yash Thakur, who bowls with a heavy bowl, has shown a knack for picking wickets and is fearless in trying variations to outfox the batters. He could also stand a very outside chance in India’s T20I scheme of things.
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