Written by Virat Verma, Parimatch sports expert
The business end of this ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is approaching fast and teams are gearing up with each passing day for intense battles ahead. While some of them have been able to maintain an impeccable record by winning each of their matches so far which includes India, Australia and South Africa, the other former champions such as England and West Indies have been able to keep themselves afloat even though they have a few disappointments as well.
The competition began on an intense note in the United States of America where drop in pictures from Adelaide behaved peculiarly in the conditions that were dominant in most of the matches, which were held in the first of the T20 World Cup. The bowlers were able to dominate the bat more often than not, which is not something that is witnessed, particularly in the batting-friendly T20 game. Even in the West Indies where the rest of the tournament is taking place, the pitches are not always batting-friendly and conditions will come into play which will allow the bowlers to make merry.
Let us take a look at the bowlers who have done well and are expected to finish among the top five wicket takers in the tournament:
Jasprit Bumrah: Undoubtedly, the best bowler across formats and conditions as well as pitches, the India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who may be five wickets behind the table topper, is expected to continue with his excellent form which she has shown. Bumrah has taken 10 wickets in five matches so far, which is certainly less in terms of how well she has bold in this competition. With superior control, variations, the angles that he creates as well as the fear that he instils in the mind of the batters, Bumrah will continue to remain at the forefront of India’s bowling attack and will be expected to add a lot of wickets towards the business end.
Adam Zampa: On the outside Adam Zampa may not come across as someone who is a great thinker of the game, but the fact of the matter is that he is one of the fiercest competitors on the ground. The right-arm leg-spinner is currently second in the list of highest wicket-takers with 13 wickers in the tournament already. The former champions Australia have a great amount of trust and faith in his abilities to continue grabbing a lot of wickets. Zampa’s variations, his ability to out-think the batter and beat him in the air with his loopy deliveries remain his key weapon.
Arshdeep Singh: Even though some believe that he is notorious in giving away runs during all stages of the game, India want to keep their focus on his ability to strike with the new ball as well as with the old. Arshdeep, who has the skills of moving it around both ways, is yet another fierce competitor on the field who doesn’t comes across as one. He has been honing his skills which has had him grab 12 wickets in five matches so far in the World Cup. His exploits put Arshdeep in the pole position to finish as one of the highest wicket-takers in this World Cup.
Anrich Nortje: In a bowling attack which has plenty of attraction and skills, Nortje has emerged as the most dependable of them all given his ability to keep it tight as well as take wickets, irrespective of whether he is bowling in the initial initial stages or at the death. He had a poor IPL, but Nortje has improved tremendously in a matter of few weeks to attain his best. The right-arm fast bowler has requisite skills to keep a hard check on the batters but he also has a great mix of peace as well as other variations, such as of cutters and slower ones to keep the box guessing most of the times.
Fazalhaq Farooqi: He came into the tournament as an underdog, but he has outdone the likes of those who have been considered as the biggest threat among the left-arm fast bowlers, such as Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi. The Afghanistan fast bowler Farooqi has been at the forefront of taking wickets for his side and has forced an excellent partnership with his captain Rashid Khan when it comes to mixing it up. Farooqi has taken most wickets so far in the World Cup, 15, but given that Afghanistan will have to work extra hard to make it to the semi-finals, he may not get as many opportunities as the others to add more to his wickets tally. However, on current form, Farooqi looks unplayable and he has been a revelation for Afghanistan in this World Cup.
