T20 World Cup 2022: Is India's death over bowling a problem or a bad phase? 

Slog over bowling of India has been a matter of concern since the Asia Cup followed by a series against Australia and South Africa. Despite winning both the series, death-over bowling woes remain persistent. India has leaked plenty of runs in the crucial overs, to be one of the most expensive sides in death overs. 

However, skipper Rohit Sharma still believes that India's death bowling woes are not a concern but have a scope for improvement. 

"The team wants to play and bowl in a certain way and we want to give them that confidence. Yes, we have not bowled well at the death in the last five or six games. We are doing the same to the opposition as well," Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation after India conceded 78 runs in the final five overs against South Africa in the second T20I.

"To bowl and bat at the death is very tough. That is where the game is decided. It is not concerning, but we need to pick ourselves and get our act together," he added.

Are conditions the main reason behind this troubling performance?

As the skipper said that the death over bowling is not a matter of concern but keeps potential to be improved, he certainly meant it to be a phase that bowlers are going through and not a significant issue. 

Right from Asia Cup's Super 4 matches to the three games against Australia, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was entitled as the main culprit, conceding 61 runs in 4 of the six games in which he bowled 19th over. The number increased to 82, considering occasions when he bowled 18th over or beyond. But they largely came in UAE, where the dew plays a considerable role, and any bowler could face a challenge to defend runs on a given day.   

Arshdeep Singh emerged as a strong contender for death overs, giving an economy of 7.38 runs in the last four overs, which has been the lowest among any Indian bowler since 2019. But he also conceded 26 runs when bowled 19th over in the 2nd T20I against South Africa, highlighting that conditions play a crucial and differentiating role.

Deepak Chahar surprisingly gave away only eight runs in the death-over on Sunday. As he is in reserves, management would look for a possible answer for death overs if he continues to play like this.

Harshal Patel, whose return was expected to make the figures better as he had done the job well for India and RCB, was also hammered for plenty of runs in slog overs. 

Even Jasprit Bumrah, the bowler on which team India relies heavily, was smashed for 50 runs and remained wicketless in the third T20I against Australia. 

So India has plenty of candidates but who will fit in the shoes on Australian soil is a question. Whether it be Mohammed Shami alongside Arshdeep Singh or Deepak Chahar or India will stick with Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Now it is just 20 days from this question being answered when India will clash with Pakistan in the mega-event.