Cricket News

3 bowlers India can try in T20s ahead of T20 World Cup

With the ongoing 5-match T20 series against Australia, India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup in June have begun in earnest. While the batting has been extremely impressive, with almost all players performing well, the bowling needs more polishing. While it is important to note that the pitches have been highly conducive to batting, India’s bowling has lacked fire and venom.

With not too many games left before the marquee tournament, India must try a few more bowlers before taking a call on who will travel to the West Indies and United States.

Here’s a look at three bowlers India should consider trying ahead of the T20 World Cup:

Harshit Rana

At just 21 years old, Harshit Rana is rapidly making a name for himself as one of the most exciting young pace bowlers in India. Renowned for his impressive pace, Rana can consistently bowl over 140 km/h and can also make batters feel uncomfortable with the awkward bounce that he generates. Rana showed his talent during the recent IPL season for the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he attracted eyeballs thanks to his skill-set. He also displayed his skills in the ACC Emerging Men’s Cup, where he continued to impress with his consistent performances.

In the ongoing domestic season too, Rana has been amongst the wickets. In addition to his impressive bowling skills, Harshit Rana will also bring valuable batting credentials to the Indian team, addressing a long-standing issue that has plagued the side. Rana’s ability to contribute with the bat will provide the team with much-needed depth and versatility in the middle order.

Mohsin Khan

Mohsin Khan was one of the breakout stars of IPL 2022, taking 14 wickets in just 9 matches with an impressive economy rate of 5.97. His performances led to calls for his inclusion in the national team, but injuries unfortunately derailed his progress. He missed a significant amount of cricket and could only play in 5 matches in the 2023 IPL.

However, Mohsin Khan is now back on the field and performing at a high level. In the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was highly impressive. He played 5 games, picking up 11 wickets, not going wicketless even once. Hence, Mohsin should definitely be considered by the selectors as they look to prepare a formidable bowling lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Despite being out of the Indian team for over a year, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have sent a strong message that he is far from finished. His exceptional bowling displays in the tournament have served as a reminder of his enduring quality and potential to contribute to the Indian team.

In the seven matches he played, Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 16 wickets at an astonishing average of 9.31. His remarkable economy rate of 5.84 further highlights his ability to control the flow of runs and exert pressure on the opposition batsmen.

Bhuvneshwar’s comeback helped his team, Uttar Pradesh, qualify for the quarter-finals before they were eventually knocked out by Punjab. Bhuvi, as he is fondly called, has a wealth of experience, having played in 229 international matches across formats. Therefore, it would not be a bad idea to bring him back into the team.