Before going to the 2024 T20 World Cup, Indian bowlers never believed they’d take 25 wickets in three matches. However, this was how the group stage in the United States played out. Even the bowlers with the biggest question marks achieved success, since 120-plus scores appeared unattainable.
Now the story will deepen. Flatter conditions in the West Indies for the Super-Eights would most likely put Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh to the test, since they struggled to perform consistently on similar wickets in the IPL 2024. The question mark about Ravindra Jadeja’s position ahead of Kuldeep Yadav may also get bolder.
However, Indian bowlers have been successful in the West Indies. The current team includes two of the top three wicket-takers.
Let’s look at the top three:
1. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has always empathized with West Indian culture and his friendship with Kieron Pollard during the latters Mumbai Indians tenure was truly heartwarming. The talented Indian allrounder has also achieved success with the ball in the Caribbean claiming six wickets in as many matches at an average of 22.16 showcasing his prowess on the field.
Two tours transpired across 2022 and 2023 collectively spanning six games. Intriguingly he failed to secure any wickets in the inaugural 2022 match and the closing 2023 game. Notably these were the only two instances where he did not complete his full bowling quota.
His greatest stint, 3/35, came in Providence, when he took the wickets of Rovman Powell, Brandon King, and Johnson Charles, although in a losing cause as the Windies chased down 153 in 19 overs. Pandya’s economy rate of 6.33 is the best among India’s top eight bowlers.
2. Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh’s showing against the USA in the group round is a positive indicator for India. Like Pandya, the left-arm quick’s ability to combine hard lengths with slower ones, as well as swing, is ideal for Caribbean conditions.
He is also India’s second-highest wicket-taker, taking seven wickets in six games at an average of 25.85.
Apart from the final match of the 2023 trip, Arshdeep has not gone wicketless in T20Is in the West Indies. His greatest spell was perhaps the first one – 2/24 – in Tarouba, when he startled Kyle Mayers with a slow bouncer in the second over and snapped Akeal Hosein with an inch-perfect yorker at the end.
1. Ashish Nehra
Speaking of left-arm quicks, how can anybody exclude Ashish Nehra, the ‘OG’ of India’s T20 bowling scene, off such lists?
Nehra displayed remarkable prowess in T20Is in the West Indies by clinching an impressive 10 wickets across five matches maintaining an average of 15.60 and an economy rate of 7.80. Interestingly all these standout performances unfolded during the 2010 T20 World Cup establishing him as Indias standout bowler. (Fun fact: Among the notable bowlers who outperformed Nehra with 12 wickets was Australias Steve Smith)
Nehra’s heroics featured two three-wicket hauls, one against Afghanistan in India’s tournament opener and the other against the hosts. Sandwiched between them was a similarly impressive 2/35 versus Australia. Chamara Kapugedara smashed a six against him to advance Sri Lanka to the next round, slightly ruining his World Cup.
Still, it serves as a reminder that if injuries hadn’t derailed his career, Ashish Nehra could have departed with an unbeatable T20I record in the West Indies.
