India’s Bowling Brilliance Sparks Debate: Is This the Best Ever? Ganguly Weighs In
Image Source: Hindustan Times
As the ICC Cricket World Cup unfolds, discussions are brewing on whether the current Indian bowling unit is the best in ODIs. While many enthusiasts endorse this claim, former India captain Sourav Ganguly remains unconvinced, citing the formidable pace attack of the 2003 World Cup.
India stands out as the only team yet to be bowled out in the ongoing World Cup, and their bowlers have consistently dismantled oppositions. The last three encounters saw England bundled out for 129, Sri Lanka for 55, and South Africa, the tournament’s leading run-scorers, bowled out for 83. The quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, backed by the late addition of Mohammed Shami due to Hardik Pandya’s injury, has made India’s bowling nearly invincible.
Shami’s extraordinary performance boasts 16 wickets in just four matches at an astonishing average of 7 and an economy rate of 4.3. Bumrah closely follows with 15 wickets in eight matches, maintaining an average of 15.53 and an economy rate of 3.65. Jadeja, India’s most successful spinner in the tournament, has claimed 14 scalps in eight matches, while Kuldeep and Siraj have contributed with 12 and 10 wickets, respectively.
The multifaceted bowling attack provides a relentless challenge for opponents. If Bumrah and Siraj don’t strike early, Shami steps in. If the new ball is navigated successfully, Jadeja and Kuldeep tighten the grip. Bumrah, with his mastery in variations, returns with the old ball, sealing the fate of the match. India has only conceded more than 200 runs thrice in eight matches.
While the talk of India possessing the best-ever bowling attack gains momentum, Sourav Ganguly remains cautious. Reflecting on the 2003 World Cup, where he captained a side featuring Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, and Javagal Srinath, Ganguly emphasizes the brilliance of that era’s pace attack. In that tournament, Nehra, Zaheer, and Srinath played pivotal roles in India reaching the finals.
Ganguly acknowledges the excitement around Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj but refrains from declaring them the best ever. “It’s exciting to see Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj bowl. It’s a big difference when you have Bumrah,” Ganguly notes, recognizing the pressure Bumrah exerts, influencing the performances of the other two.
While Ganguly lauds the impact of Shami, he suggests the experienced bowler should have been in the playing XI earlier. As India targets a record ninth World Cup victory in a row, their campaign remains bolstered by a potent bowling attack complemented by stellar performances from the batting department. The debate on the best-ever bowling unit continues, echoing through the cricketing world as India heads towards potential World Cup glory.
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