The India cricket team looks like a well-oiled machine at the moment. All bases seem to be covered. Batters have scored runs, batting first or second. Spinners have spun their webs around oppositions. If there are any concerns, they’re related to the fast bowling in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Indian pacers struggle in powerplay
Opposition pacers have done well in the powerplay, but Indian fast bowlers haven’t exactly cracked the code. Mohammad Shami did take a couple of wickets in the powerplay against Bangladesh and also ended up with a five-wicket haul, but he didn’t look at his best. In the two group stage matches since Shami has failed to take a wicket.
Harshit Rana took one wicket across two matches in the powerplay. He did in the middle order and has been India’s best pacer in the ICC Champions Trophy. But his services aren’t needed with Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy doing the job in the 11-40 overs phase.
Harshit was also left out against New Zealand with Hardik Pandya taking the new ball. But is that enough? New Zealand pacers sent Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli back to the pavilion. Indian pacers combined took one wicket in the entire match.
Should Arshdeep Singh replace Mohammad Shami?
For the India vs. Australia semifinal, the Men in Blue need a new ball specialist. If he can bowl in the death, it’s a cherry on top. Luckily, there is a guy named Arshdeep Singh who fits the ball. He swings the new white ball both ways. He can challenge the dangerous Travis Head and the right-handed batters like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne.
Shami doesn’t have the zip at the moment. Hardik has been great, but he isn’t a frontline pacer like Arshdeep. He’s got experience as well. One must remember he was India’s highest wicket-taker in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups. Arshdeep bowled exceptionally well in knockout matches. He’s bankable.
The only question is, will Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma tinker with a winning combination, that too for a semifinal?
India Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
