Cricket World Cup 2019: India’s bowling attack is lethal like never before

• Jasprit Bumrah is the No. 1 ranked bowler in the world
  
  
• Kuldeep Yadav, with 65 wickets, is the highest wicket-taker since 2018
  
  
• Kuldeep & Yuzvendra Chahal have similar records in New Zealand, England, South Africa, and Australia
  
  
• Bhuveshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami are among top 5 wicket-takers in 2019
  

Unlike previous editions of the Cricket World Cup, India goes into the tournament with one of the more balanced and consistent bowling attacks. In Jasprit Bumrah, they have the No. 1 ranked bowler in the ICC’s (International Cricket Council’s) one-day international (ODI) rankings.

The rankings are calculated by a pre-programmed algorithm that considers the match circumstance, making Bumrah a high-impact performer. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal’s intelligent and deceptive bowling-- regardless of pitch conditions-- has ensured that they topped the wicket takers’ charts since 2018.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami have had an excellent 2019, with the latter enjoying his comeback stint. Ravindra Jadeja may not feature at the top of the charts, but his overall record in England makes him a potent threat.

Table: Top wicket-takers since 2018 (among players featuring in the World Cup)

No.	Name	Country	Matches	Wickets	Average
1	Kuldeep Yadav	India	30	65	20.72
2	Adil Rashid	England	34	55	28.27
3	Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	27	55	16.41
4	Yuzvendra Chahal	India	24	45	24.33
5	Mujeeb Ur Rahman	Afghanistan	27	44	20.56
6	Trent Boult	New Zealand	22	43	24.83
7	Mustafizur Rahman	Bangladesh	24	39	25.07
8	Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	23	36	33.5
9	Lungi Ngidi	South Africa	18	34	24.3
10	Lockie Ferguson	New Zealand	17	33	27.6
11	Mashrafe Mortaza	Bangladesh	27	33	33.66
17	Bhuvneshwar Kumar	India	24	30	32.06
18	Jasprit Bumrah	India	18	29	21.03
31	Mohammad Shami	India	13	22	29.18

Apples to apples

How the bowlers performed in New Zealand, England, South Africa, and Australia, the NESA countries-- ones that have similar seamer-friendly playing conditions -- could be an indication of what may lie in store in the World Cup.

India’s bowlers have performed fairly well in these countries. However, it’s the spinners who continue to dominate. Hardik Pandya is one rung above Jasprit Bumrah, having featured in double the matches.

Table: Top wicket-takers in NESA countries since 2018 (among those featuring in the World Cup)

No.	Name	Country	Matches	Wickets	Average
1	Trent Boult	New Zealand	19	39	22.41
2	Adil Rashid	England	22	37	30.54
3	Kuldeep Yadav	India	15	36	17.47
4	Yuzvendra Chahal	India	15	33	19.93
5	Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	19	30	26.86
6	Moeen Ali	England	22	30	36.92
7	Chris Woakes	England	13	25	24040
8	Imran Tahir	South Africa	17	24	27.04
9	Lungi Ngidi	South Africa	14	24	22.29
10	Lockie Ferguson	New Zealand	14	22	30.54
11	Adile Phehlukwayo	South Africa	18	22	25.18
16	Bhuvneshwar Kumar	India	14	17	32.94
20	Mohammad Shami	India	7	14	20.64
29	Hardik Pandya	India	12	9	53.55
30	Jasprit Bumrah	India	6	8	20.87

Recent Form


Bhuvneshwar and Shami, as evidenced by their performances thus far in 2019, have struck form at just the right time. With four of their bowlers among the top 10 wicket takers in 2019, India will hope they carry their momentum through the World Cup.


Table: Top 10 wicket-takers in 2019 (among those featuring in the World Cup)

No.	Name	Country	Matches	Wickets	Average
1	Trent Boult	New Zealand	10	21	20.57
2	Kuldeep Yadav	India	11	20	27.35
3	Bhuvneshwar Kumar	India	10	19	22.36
4	Mohammad Shami	India	11	19	26.42
5	Adam Zampa	Australia	11	18	32.16
6	Patt Cummins	Australia	6	17	14.29
7	Yuzvendra Chahal	India	7	16	21.31
8	Lockie Ferguson	New Zealand	8	14	30.07
9	Gulbadin Naib	Afghanistan	6	13	15.46
10	Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	9	13	28.76