CWC 2023: Who would be part of India's pace bowling unit

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Who would be part of India's pace bowling unit in CWC 2023? Probable list of bowlers India would be targeting.

Bumrah is likely to make his India comeback soon (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

With the ICC World Cup 2023 fast approaching, the Indian think-tank has plenty to ponder regarding what would their combination for ODI cricket’s mega event. There are injury and fitness concerns for the home team going into the World Cup and the coming few weeks will be very crucial for the team management for finalising the best 15 possible.

There are some questions that need to be answered with respect to the squad and one such is the bowling department, particularly the pace attack. We still don’t know what would be the fast-bowling arsenal that India will have for the event.

This is due to India’s consistent experimentation as well as injuries to some of the first-choice pacers. Two of them are Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.

In this article, we will dwell upon the possible pace attack that India can have in the World Cup, provided all goes well with their respective fitness status.

Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has been India’s go to bowler in the ODI format for quite some time and his performance in 50-overs cricket has been simply amazing. Siraj has featured in 24 ODIs and has taken 43 wickets at 20.72 apiece. He has been India’s leading wicket-taker in the last few years and gave the team timely breakthroughs in his opening spells as well in the middle overs. Siraj has also improved quite well when it comes to the death overs and sure looks like a complete bowler on whom India can bank on in the upcoming World Cup.

Read More: Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant back on the road to recovery

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is a certainty in India’s World Cup team if he is fully fit from the back injury that he is currently recuperating from. Bumrah has missed cricket since August 2022 due to this injury, but the good news is that the pacer has started to rehab at the NCA, and he is back bowling full throttle in the nets.

He might be picked for India’s upcoming international assignments before the World Cup to prove his match fitness and his presence will largely benefit the team. The pacer is someone who can bowl at all phases of the innings and is simply exceptional at the death overs. He was in great form in ODIs in 2022 in the brief time he played the format where he picked 13 wickets in just 5 games.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami, like Bumrah, was an integral part of India’s ODI team since last 5 years, but his participation in this format has been minimal in the last few months, mostly to manage his workload. He has played only 11 ODIs since 2022 but will be an important part of India’s bowling attack come the World Cup.

Read More: How Shami and Siraj make a solid new-ball pair for India in ODIs?

Krishna is going under final round of rehab in NCA facility (Image ©BCCI/Twitter)

Prasidh Krishna

The tall, lanky pacer has been out of action since the last one year and is getting back to full fitness at the NCA where he is training with Bumrah. In a brief career thus far in Indian colors, Krishna has shown his ability as a wicket-taker and as someone who can make things happen with his pace and height even on the flattest decks. He has picked 25 wickets in 14 ODIs thus far for India.

If he is fit and available, India will get a huge boost but at the same time, Prasidh Krishna doesn’t have much game time and we have to see if he is part of India’s plans in the upcoming weeks.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is most likely to be India’s all-rounder for the World Cup along with Ravindra Jadeja and will don the role of the third or fourth pacer in the team depending upon the playing XI. He has been consistently bowling and batting since his return from injury which is a great sign for the team.

Mukesh Kumar

Another pacer in the mould of Mohammed Shami is being tried by India to find some answers related to the pace department. Mukesh Kumar hits consistent line and lengths with decent pace and recently made his debut in Test and ODI format in the West Indies. So, he is someone who can be seen as an option by the Indian selectors for the World Cup.

Read More: Siraj & Kuldeep among top 5 India wicket-takers since 2022; Is the duo a certainty for CWC 2023?

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur has been in the scheme of things for India for a while now and has been a wicket-taker for the team, although his economy is on the higher side. Thakur has picked 32 wickets in 22 games in ODIs since 2022 and may find himself as a part of the touring party due to his all-round abilities.

Outside Chances

Malik might add another dimension to India's bowling attack (Source: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik

Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm seamer, can be a good addition to the team just because of the variation he brings, but his selection may not happen given the fact that selectors have not backed him for the ODIs all this while. He has not been selected for India’s ODI team for West Indies and his road to the World Cup might be very difficult.

Umran Malik, the speedster, has been getting chances at this level but is proving to be highly inconsistent. If he does have a great next few months in ODI cricket, then Umran can book his spot for the World Cup.

These are some of the possible and fixed pace options for India and the BCCI needs to find perfect balance in terms of selection so as to be competent in every possible condition they play in the World Cup.

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