India’s selection of four spinners for the T20 World Cup has raised questions about the team’s pace bowling options. While Jasprit Bumrah remains a certainty, the choice of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh has been met with skepticism.
Siraj and Arshdeep have not been in top form in the IPL, with both struggling to contain batters in the death overs. Siraj has leaked runs at 9.50 per over, while Arshdeep has been even more expensive at 9.63 per over.
Former chief selector MSK Prasad believes that three pacers will be sufficient, given the expected slow turners in the Americas. However, T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch and former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop have expressed concerns about the lack of pace support for Bumrah.
Finch believes that Siraj and Arshdeep are not consistent enough, while Bishop suggests that four spinners may be a luxury rather than a necessity.
The selectors have also faced criticism for omitting Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, and T Natarajan, who have all impressed with their death bowling skills in the IPL.
Despite the concerns, Prasad has described the squad as “balanced,” although he believes that K L Rahul should have been included. He also expects Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal to play in the starting XI.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of India’s bowling attack will depend on the conditions in the Americas and the form of the individual bowlers. However, the selection of only three pacers has left some experts questioning whether the team has the necessary firepower to succeed in the tournament.
