In a matter of days, the BCCI will announce India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Major discussions are already going on about India’s batting order. Who’ll open the batting, and who’s the designated keeper or finisher. An equal amount of time should be allocated to talk about our bowling contingent. We have two sure-shot candidates, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, but the question is who’ll be bowling partners.
Right now, five out-and-out bowlers, including Bumrah and Kuldeep, are front runners to make the 15-man squad. An additional two or three bowlers will likely be part of the traveling reserves; that is where the fight is expected to be the most intense.
India’s bowlers for the T20 World Cup 2024
Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Reserves: Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi
Outside chance: Mukesh Kumar and Mayank Yadav
Latest on T20 WC
Bumrah, Siraj & Arshdeep on the flight; questions over Mayank, Avesh & Mukesh remain
In all likelihood, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will be Bumrah’s pace bowling partners. Siraj is a fine new-ball bowler and has blown away top orders on his own in white-ball cricket. Arshdeep’s left-handedness, versatility to bowl in the powerplay and death, and past T20 World Cup experience also make him a certainty. Not much needs to be said about Bumrah, who’s currently the best bowler in the world.
Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan have already played T20I cricket and are currently doing well in the IPL 2024 season. Mukesh is a good death-over option but can be useful in the powerplay as well. Meanwhile, Avesh primarily works as a middle-over enforcer, taking advantage of his height and speed.
Mayank Yadav is the X-factor India might need in their T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Similar to Avesh, Mayank is a middle-over enforcer, but it’s his speed that stands him apart. He’s one of the fastest bowlers in the world, but as of now, he’s unrefined, and his fitness is a major concern.
Kul-Cha back? Bishnoi vs Chahal loading
The disbanded Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal duo might return for the mega event in the USA and West Indies. According to a BCCI source, Chahal might be the frontrunner for the second spinner spot. After his incredible performance in the IPL 2024 season, the selectors want him in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
Ravi Bishnoi, who was the world No. 1 ranked T20I bowler not too long ago, is directly fighting for his spot with Chahal. As far as international cricket goes, Bishnoi has a slight edge over Chahal. But, in the ongoing IPL season, Chahal is miles ahead of Bishnoi.
Chahal is currently a top contender for the purple cap and has 13 wickets to his name in 8 matches. Meanwhile, Bishnoi has just 5 wickets to his name in an equal number of matches. Only one of them is expected to make the squad. Whoever does so will join Kuldeep and two spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
