T20 World Cup 2022: Team India - Is the fast attack the best choice for Australian pitches?

As the tournament will be staged in Australia this year, every team will look forward to bringing in the best pacers in their squad. 

Indian pace attack looked relatively weak in the recently concluded Asia Cup because of the absence of their key pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. But now, the team has been bolstered by the return of star pacers.  

Australia has fast pitches, and bowlers who can bowl 140 Kmph will be a good fit for the tournaments. 

India's experienced pace attack

In India's World Cup squad, only Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are the two bowlers who can click this level of pace. 

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best all-format pacers worldwide. His composure to bowl yorkers and defend any runs in death overs makes him a stand-out pacer at all levels. Having played 17 international matches in Australia, the bowler has picked 46 wickets with an overall economy of 3.25 across formats. His numbers on Australian pitches speak volumes of his talent. 

Hardik Pandya's exuberant batting style and brisk bowling, especially after making a comeback in 2022, have been a delight to watch. How India uses him as a 5th or 6th bowler will be a thing to watch as he, too, has a little experience of Australian conditions.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, though he delivers at a little slower level, his ability to swing and the experience get him through. Apart from the swing, his control over line, length and cricketing smartness makes him stand out from all the other bowlers. Known for digging out witty swings with the new ball, he is one of the most skilled players to get early breakthroughs in the shortest game format.

Concern with the in-form bowlers

The concern lies in India's young pace attack, who have shown great recent forms - Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel. Both of these bowlers have great T20 experience, but in India, on slower pitches.

Harshal Patel is known for his variations, but he keeps his ball in a slower region which might not be a good thing in Australia. A similar case stands with Arshdeep Singh.

The lack of pace can go South for them playing in Australia. They have shown impressive numbers in T20Is, but most have come from playing on India's slow pitches. This will be their first appearance in Australia for an international fixture, and how they craft their abilities to India's benefit will be crucial. 

This was one of the reasons why many seniors wanted Mohammed Shami in the main squad in place of Harshal Patel. He brings the experience and pace required to capitalise on Australian pitches.

A few of the experts also coined Umran Mailk's name for the T20I World Cup due to the pace he generates. But his expensive economy on debut made it difficult for him to be part of the squad.

With Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Hardik Pandya in the main squad and Mohammed Shami on standby, this is India's one of the best pace-attack that they can have for Australian pitches. The only thing that could have made it better is the inclusion of Mohammed Shami in the main squad.