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

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Cricket World Cup 2019: India’s bowling attack is lethal like never before
India's Jasprit Bumrah, second left, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of New Zealand's Colin Munro during the Cricket World Cup warm up match between India and New Zealand at The Oval in London. AP/PTI(

  • 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.
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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. NameCountryMatchesWicketsAverage
1Kuldeep YadavIndia 306520.72
2Adil RashidEngland345528.27
3Rashid KhanAfghanistan 275516.41
4Yuzvendra ChahalIndia 244524.33
5Mujeeb Ur RahmanAfghanistan 274420.56
6Trent BoultNew Zealand 224324.83
7Mustafizur RahmanBangladesh243925.07
8Kagiso RabadaSouth Africa233633.5
9Lungi NgidiSouth Africa183424.3
10Lockie Ferguson New Zealand 173327.6
11Mashrafe MortazaBangladesh273333.66
17Bhuvneshwar KumarIndia 243032.06
18Jasprit BumrahIndia 182921.03
31Mohammad ShamiIndia 132229.18


Apples to apples
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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. NameCountryMatchesWicketsAverage
1Trent BoultNew Zealand 193922.41
2Adil RashidEngland223730.54
3Kuldeep YadavIndia 153617.47
4Yuzvendra ChahalIndia 153319.93
5Kagiso RabadaSouth Africa193026.86
6Moeen AliEngland223036.92
7Chris WoakesEngland132524040
8Imran TahirSouth Africa172427.04
9Lungi NgidiSouth Africa142422.29
10Lockie FergusonNew Zealand 142230.54
11Adile Phehlukwayo South Africa182225.18
16Bhuvneshwar Kumar India 141732.94
20Mohammad ShamiIndia 71420.64
29Hardik PandyaIndia 12953.55
30Jasprit BumrahIndia 6820.87




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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. NameCountryMatchesWicketsAverage
1Trent BoultNew Zealand 102120.57
2Kuldeep YadavIndia 112027.35
3Bhuvneshwar KumarIndia101922.36
4Mohammad ShamiIndia 111926.42
5Adam ZampaAustralia111832.16
6Patt CumminsAustralia61714.29
7Yuzvendra ChahalIndia 71621.31
8Lockie FergusonNew Zealand81430.07
9Gulbadin NaibAfghanistan61315.46
10Kagiso RabadaSouth Africa91328.76

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