5 reasons why India have the best bowling line-up in CT 2017

That they’re very much in business in this edition of the Champions Trophy has been made abundantly clear by defending champions India, courtesy of two authoritative warm-up games. On both occasions, an increasingly potent bowling line-up did exceedingly well to restrict their oppositions New Zealand and Bangladesh to a sub-150 total.

Of course, Dinesh Karthik, making a back door entry to India’s Champions Trophy squad, shone against Bangladesh, and was ably assisted by Hardik Pandya. However, India’s bowlers responded to the soggy English conditions perfectly by scripting a rout of Bangladesh in their second warm-up fixture.

India’s batsmen, led by the seemingly invincible Virat Kohli, have had their share of the limelight. The Dhawans, the Yuvrajs and the Dhonis are all well-established match winners with the bat. They will indeed have a major role to play in India’s Champions Trophy defense. However, this year around, we’re likely to see arguably India’s best pace trio in action since the Srinath-Prasad era which also saw a hint of Zaheer Khan.

Bangladesh collapsed spectacularly, and the pacers shared the spoils. Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shared 6 wickets amongst themselves with 3 apiece. The New Zealand game witnessed a similar arrangement in the wickets allotment, this time Bhuvi being partnered by Mohammed Shami to bag a 3-for each. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with two Kiwi scalps.

The warm-ups are done and dusted, and India have so far played like champions. The real test for India formally begins on June 4, with arch-rivals Pakistan waiting ahead. With typical showers already playing hide and seek in England, India’s pacers might well be the more significant contributors to India’s Champions Trophy campaign this season. We at CricTracker reckon India are equipped with the best bowling line-up in the Champions Trophy, and here are our reasons why:

Accurate death bowlers

The Mumbai Indians’ success in the business end of the IPL can partly be accorded to their near-perfect execution in the death overs. The recently concluded edition of the IPL particularly exhibited an improved Jasprit Bumrah who bowled a spectacular Super Over, amongst others miserly overs at the death. Tailing yorkers, slower yorkers, yorkers wide of off stump – you name them, and Bumrah has them all up his sleeve.

On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has extended his dominance in the IPL after bagging his second consecutive Purple Cap. While Bhuvi doesn’t rely on pace, his discipline gives almost nothing away. Operating in the mid-130s, Bhuvneshwar Kumar can also pose a threat to batsmen as his deliveries tend to hold their line, the norm being balls that come into the right-hander. His variations have also helped him en route a wicket-fest in 2017.

Pacers who can get the ball to swing in English conditions

While he has been successful in death overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is at his best when he gets the ball to curve like a scimitar. The slips are always in business when Bhuvi has the new ball in hand. The English conditions that foster swing under grey skies will certainly bring back memories of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s forte. England has been a happy hunting ground for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bhuvi was one of India’s bright spots for India in an otherwise wretched tour of England. He had bagged 19 wickets in 2014, an Indian record for most wickets against England in a Test series.

Speaking of swing, there’s Mohammed Shami who can move the ball, both old and new, coupled with fearful pace and accuracy. As far as pace is concerned, Shami is right up there for India, but what makes him a destructive bowler at the top is that hint of swing that he has on offer.

Others who can offer pace and bounce

To start with, there’s obviously Shami. Another name which is synonymous to sheer pace in the Indian team is Umesh Yadav. The speedster rattled a sturdy Australian batting line-up with express pace and sharp bounce on wickets that behaved erratically. Umesh can consistently deliver the ball in excess of 140kmph. His effort ball is both accurate and vicious as it breezes past the grill, keeping batsmen always on their toes.

Spin twins who complement each other perfectly

The subcontinent is known for having consistently produced some of the leading spinners in world cricket. Two such figures are currently in the Indian Cricket Team, and have built a reputation of hunting in pairs. The duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja form a rock solid spin attack.

Interestingly, both bowlers complement each other sufficiently, not to overlap their respective strengths. While Ashwin’s loopy off-spinners can go through batsmen’s defenses, Jadeja can fire deliveries in that go on with the arm and disturb the woodwork. Likewise, Ashwin thrives on variations – top spinners, carom balls, and even the leg-spinner nowadays – while Jadeja exhibits tenacity with balls that pitch on middle and off and beat the batsmen.

That they form a left-arm right-arm combination comes as an added advantage for India. Their success in the grueling Australia Test series is a testimony to their unmatched ability.

Variety, lots of it

As a bowling unit, India trump the other seven teams contesting in this year’s Champions Trophy in terms of variety. Each of India’s six bowlers offers something unique to the bowling attack. Umesh is an out and out pacer, Bhuvi banks on his ability to swing the ball. Jasprit Bumrah’s accuracy makes him a death overs specialist, while Mohammed Shami synthesizes pace, swing and accuracy to dismantle batsmen.

In the spin department, Ashwin is a master at work with his flighted off-spinners, while Jadeja sticks to his line like a bowling machine. All put together, India have arguably the most potent bowling line-up in the Champions Trophy, but there’s no doubt that they have one that has variety.