India, of late, has been blessed with multiple batters who can roll their arms over and provide an extra dynamic and flexibility to the squad.
While the Indian cricket team across history was always a batting-dominated side, it has seldom been that a skipper has been spoilt for choices while picking his bowlers.
India, of late, has been blessed with multiple batters who can roll their arms over and provide an extra dynamic and flexibility to the squad.
The current and upcoming crop of cricketers have shown tremendous versatility and in this article, we take a look at four such players who can be the top picks to serve as a part-time bowling option.
Rinku Singh bowled his first over in the shortest format during the Sri Lanka T20I series, earlier this year in July. Rinku managed to make an immediate impact by picking up two wickets in one over while leaking only 3 runs.
Earlier last year December, Rinku Singh marked his ODI debut by picking his maiden international wicket against South Africa. Rinku dismissed Proteas batter Rassie van der Dussen.
The 27-year-old has already given a testament to the dynamic value he brings to the team and can be a handy option for a skipper to go to.
Riyan Parag boasts of a rich bag of variations. He found success in the T20I leg against Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets in the first T20I and then bowled an economical spell in the second to help India win the series.
Parag also has the ability to spin the ball away from the batters of both kinds with his assortment of sliders and cutters. Not only that, Riyan’s defensive bowling can at times also help other bowlers to get on the wicket column.
However, Parag’s bowling prowess shouldn’t come as a shock. The 22-year-old has been a consistent performer with the ball for Assam in all formats. Over the past five years, he has claimed the highest number of T20 wickets for the state (34), maintaining an impressive economy rate of 6.44 runs per over.
Until the arrival of the Impact Player rule in 2023, Parag was also a consistent part-time option for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
India’s latest T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav himself is one more part-time option in the ranks. SKY, with his right-arm off break bowling, showed he could make meaningful contributions with the ball as well and not just with the bat, when he managed to defend six runs in the final over against Sri Lanka in the bilateral series in July-August.
Surya leaked only five runs while picking up two wickets to ensure a tie. Notably, this was SKY’s first time bowling in the shortest format.
The 34-year-old has previously bowled a couple of overs for India in ODIs but is yet to get a wicket in the format.
Abhishek Sharma brings solid credentials, having bowled 134 overs in T20 matches with an economy rate slightly above seven, and his best bowling figures being 3 for 7.
Also with the retirement of Virat and Rohit from T20Is, it has opened up a void at the top of the order which Abhishek Sharma would look to capitalise. However, it his bowling, that can further back his cause if he can take up the role of the sixth bowler if and when needed and deliver the goods.
For more updates, follow Cricxtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.
