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Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc (Source: X)
In just a month the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin in the West Indies and USA. England who won the event in 2022 will head into the 20-team tournament as one of the firm favourites along with Australia.
The Indian cricket fans also got to know their squad for the upcoming tournament when it was announced on Tuesday. Australia who had won the event in 2021 also named their 15-man squad for the event on Wednesday.
Both India and Australia have crossed paths twice in the ICC event finals in 2023. On both occasions, the Australians led by Pat Cummins had come out on top. There is a very good chance that the two sides can cross paths for a third event in a row.
India versus Australia: The battle of pacers
The Australians will depend on their three lead pacer Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and skipper Pat Cummins. The backup pacers in the form of Nathan Ellis and the all-round talents of Marcus Stoinis will also come in handy.
In the last few years, the Australian pace attack has seen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood spearhead the charge. In 60 matches, Starc has picked 74 wickets with an economy rate of 7.6 runs per over while Hazelwood has picked 61 wickets from 45 games at 7.6 runs per over.
It is the skipper Pat Cummins who has the best record amongst the three with 57 wickets from 52 games and an economy rate of 7.43 runs per over. Nathan Ellis has become a huge bowler in the death overs in franchise cricket but his lack of experience in international cricket could be a major factor. Ellis has picked 24 wickets from 14 games with an economy rate of 8 while Marcus Stoinis has picked 29 wickets with an economy of 8.6 runs per over.
The Indian pace unit meanwhile will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah. The 30-year-old has been the rare source of relief for Mumbai Indians in an otherwise dismal IPL 2024 campaign. The ace Indian star has picked 74 wickets from 62 games with a best of 3/11. The standout feature is an economy rate of 6.56 which puts Bumrah in the top bracket in the T20I format of the game.
Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, has played just 10 T20I matches and picked 12 wickets with an economy rate of 8.7. In the absence of Mohammed Shami, the onus will be on Siraj to deliver the goods along with Bumrah.
25-year-old pacer Arshdeep Singh is perhaps the most seasoned bowler after Jasprit Bumrah. In 44 games already in a very young career, Arshdeep Singh has picked 62 wickets with an economy rate of 8.79 runs per over with an average of 20.
Hardik Pandya will be entrusted with the task of bowling a few overs during the T20 World Cup. The 30-year-old has picked 71 wickets so far in this format but his average of over 26 will worry the team management.
The proof is in the pudding, the Australian pace attack is miles ahead of the Indian bowling unit in the T20I format. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, none of the Indian bowlers come close to the class that the Australian trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc have with the ball.