Not a traditional leg-spinner, but Ravi Bishnoi is one of the exciting talents that India Cricket Team would love to have in the T20 World Cup 2024. If the squad selection for T20 WC happens after IND vs AUS T20 series, Bishnoi will trump both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. His googlies have been deadly and with 9 wickets in the India vs Australia series, Bishnoi has taken an early lead in the leg-spinner’s slot for T20 WC.
It’s fair to assume that India Cricket Team will have only one slot left for a leg-spinner with Ravindra Jadeja taking the other. Tilak Varma or Washington Sundar would battle it out for the other spin all-rounder slot.
Ravi Bishnoi in India vs Australia T20 series
But for the moment, Ravi Bishnoi it is. He does not have a lot of variations like Rashid Khan or a great turner of the ball like Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav. But Ravi Bishnoi has kept Australian batters guessing with his fast googlies that slide on the surface and come to the stumps more like a pacer than a spinner.
In fact, he is at least 10-20kph faster than both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
- 1/54 vs Australia 1st T20
- 3/32 vs Australia 2nd T20
- 2/32 vs Australia 3rd T20
- 1/17 vs Australia 4th T20
- 2/29 vs Australia 5th T20
In the IND vs AUS 5th T20I, Ravi Bishnoi finished with 2/29 in his four overs. And it was his dismissal of Travis Head that many would take notice. His quicker googly gave no time to Travis Head to react and shattered the stumps. And the next one was a 95.6kph full fast quick googly to Aaron Hardie. The Australian batter could only hit it to Shreyas Iyer.
Bishnoi vs Kuldeep vs Chahal
In the last two years, Yuzvendra Chahal has been India’s go-to leg-spinner. But after missing out on the T20 World Cup 2022, Ravi Bishnoi has returned with more speed to bamboozle batters. That he has 34 wickets in 21 matches in the same timeframe is a testament to the fact. He also has a lower economy than Yuzvendra Chahal which keeps him ahead.
As for Kuldeep Yadav, he will surely be in the selectors’ plan having bowled some brilliant spells in the ODI World Cup. He has the best economy rate of 5.3 among the trio. But it’s his lack of wickets that could be his undoing. Kuldeep Yadav has only 11 wickets in 9 matches in the last two years.
India’s leg-spin battle (Last 24 months)
| Player | Mat | Wkts | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi Bishnoi | 21 | 34 | 7.11 | 4/16 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 9 | 11 | 5.3 | 3/12 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 30 | 32 | 8.01 | 3/20 |
Yuzvendra Chahal has drifted away from the race due to his inconsistency. And in a T20 World Cup cycle, it does not seem he has the selectors’ backing. On the South Africa tour, he will only play the ODIs while Ravi Bishnoi will be in the T20 squad. Another good show and Bishnoi will put one foot in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
However, Chahal can redeem himself with IPL 2024. All three will be playing for three different franchises and eyes will be on them. If Chahal or Kuldeep can outshine Bishnoi, they will have a chance. But for the moment, it’s Ravi Bishnoi who is the favourite pick for the T20 World Cup 2024.
