New Delhi, June 13: Gone are the days when India were struggling to find quality pace bowlers. In recent years, there have been handful of fast bowlers who have consistently performed well and won matches for Team India.
In the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh have been impressive on bowling friendly tracks.
But if India are to pick not three, but two pace bowlers only in a particular match, then who should get the priority. Well, with seasoned campaigner Jasprit Bumrah being the first choice, the second spot could be a hard choice between Siraj and Arshdeep.
However, former India captain Anil Kumble said he would pick Arshdeep over Siraj, if the Rohit Sharma-led side opts for two specialist seamers going forward in the T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep claimed his career-best T20I figures of 4-9 in India's seven-wicket win over the hosts USA and secured a berth in the Super 8 stage of the tournament. In the match against Pakistan, the left-arm pacer bowled a fantastic final over, picking up a wicket of Imad Wasim, as they ultimately fell seven runs short in pursuit of a 120-run target.
"I think the way he bowled that last over against Pakistan, and also the way he can bowl in different areas in the T20 game, I think certainly puts him ahead of Mohamed Siraj. If at all India takes that option of going with just the two seamers and Hardik Pandya," Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo.
"So yes, in that sense, plus he also gives you an extra variety with his left arm pace. So overall, he must be happy. And like Varun mentioned, he'll be happy with the confidence that he's got from this game," he added.
Arshdeep's performance might secure his spot even as India reshuffle their bowling unit for the Super 8, but he or Siraj is likely to be replaced by a third spinner in the Caribbean.
In the match against the USA, Arshdeep struck twice in his first over of the game to dismiss Shayan Jahangir and Andries Gous and then returned to attack in the 15th over to pick up the key wicket of Nitish Kumar as the USA were restricted to 110/8 in 20 overs.
Meanwhile, former India seamer Varun Aaron praised the performance of Arshdeep in the match against the USA and said, "He is been getting the ball to shape back really effortlessly and at regular intervals, which we didn't see that much in the IPL.
"It's really important that he takes a lot of confidence from this game into the other games, especially the Super 8s. And especially these games are more about execution, and he executed really well today."
Whether Team India pick two or three fast bowlers, play either Arshdeep or Siraj, but desperate Indian fans would love to see their team win the World Cup.
Because after winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, India have never won the trophy again. Similarly, 2011 ODI World Cup was the last major ICC multi-nation tournament, which India have won. (With IANS support)
