The recent T20 against New Zealand exposed the Indian bowlers. Team India's bowlers looked helpless during the entire series. After scoring 225 runs in the first match of the 5-match T20 series, the Kiwi team scored 259 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in the fourth match, which was its highest total so far in T20 International.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mayank Yadav were badly beaten. Prince Yadav and Akshar Patel were also very expensive. Arshdeep Singh was the only Indian bowler whose economy was below 10. Jasprit Bumrah was missed throughout the series. Now in the absence of Bumrah, Team India is going to enter the ODI series. Bumrah is being missed even before the start of this series starting on Wednesday (November 4). People say that there was a lot of talk about the big pull of fast bowlers but the performance has not been the same.
Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj and Aaqib Nabi looked helpless in the home ODI series against West Indies. Now this trio is going to be seen in New Zealand. Apart from these three, Yash Thakur is also a part of the squad. None of these fast bowlers have played in New Zealand.
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Inexperienced pace unit will enter New Zealand
It will be a big challenge for the Indian team management to decide the bowling combination in the ODI series against New Zealand. This is because Gurnoor, Kamboj, Aaqib and Yash Thakur have very little experience in international cricket. These four together have played only 11 ODI matches so far. In such a situation, the Indian bowlers are sure to be tested against the experienced and balanced New Zealand team.
Siraj will also play his first ODI match in New Zealand
Due to the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include 2 additional ODI matches in the series, Team India may have to take the field with a weak bowling attack. The thing to note is that except Arshdeep, all the bowlers included in the ODI team will play their first ODI series on New Zealand soil.
Mohammed Siraj is the most experienced bowler in the Indian attack with 77 wickets in 51 ODIs. There is a possibility that he will leave the team after the first 3 matches to prepare for the Test series. The team's only pace bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will also not play in the last 2 matches. In such a situation, Arshdeep Singh, who has 18 ODI experience, will have the responsibility of leading the bowling attack. Apart from them, Gurnoor (9 ODIs), Kamboj (one ODI) and Aaqib Nabi (one ODI) are part of the team.
Yash Thakur, who was included in the team for the last 2 ODIs, has not made his ODI debut yet. It is almost certain that Siraj and Arshdeep will play in the first 3 ODIs of the series but there will be a contest between Gurnoor, Kamboj and Aaqib for the third fast bowler.
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Who is the contender among Gurnoor, Kamboj and Aaqib?
Gurnoor's economy in ODIs has been 7.71. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Gurnoor has extra pace and the ability to bounce. Kamboj and Aaqib have an average bowling speed of around 135 kilometers per hour but due to their limited experience at the international level, they may struggle to understand different match situations and execute the strategy correctly in pressure moments. In such a situation, Gurnoor will be the first choice for the third fast bowler.