5 top bowlers to watch out for in Men's Hundred 2024 ft. Rashid Khan
The fourth edition of the Men's Hundred 2024 will be played from July 23 to August 18 at seven different venues with the participation of eight teams. The Oval Invincibles will be squaring off against Birmingham Phoenix at the Kia Oval to kickstart the proceedings on Tuesday.
In a fast-paced concept of a 100-ball innings, there has been some relaxation in the rules to provide the bowlers an equal opportunity to prevail over the batters. Instead of the traditional setting, a bowler can choose to deliver five or 10 consecutive balls, with a maximum of 20 balls per innings.
In the past three seasons, the bowlers have proven to be handy customers in handling the batters' wrath in the competition and there are few who can prove to be lethal in this season. Let's take a look at the five best bowlers, who can be successful in the Men's Hundred 2024.
#1 Rashid Khan
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has been highly successful in the T20 format, picking close to 600 wickets at an economy of 6.47. In Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023, he took eight wickets in six games at an economy of 6.83 to contribute in MI New York's title victory.
Rashid had a decent IPL 2024 with 10 scalps in 12 games at an economy of 8.40. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, the wily spinner scalped 14 wickets in eight games at a terrific economy of 6.17, which helped Afghanistan to seal the semi-final spot.
In the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024, the 25-year-old has provided all-round contributions to his side MI New York, taking 10 wickets and scoring over 100 runs.
It will be interesting to see whether Rashid can help the Rockets claim their second title of the tournament.
#2 Haris Rauf
Only the second Pakistan bowler to take more than 100 wickets in T20Is, Haris Rauf will ply his trade for the Welsh Fire in the Men's Hundred 2024. The last season witnessed him finish with five wickets in six games at an economy of 7.38.
Rauf emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20 World Cup with seven scalps in four appearances at an efficient economy of 6.73. However, the right-arm pacer has picked up only three wickets in six games of the ongoing MLC 2024 for the San Francisco Unicorns.
Nevertheless, the 30-year-old has a strong T20 pedigree and can prove to be a key wicket-taker for the Fire in the tournament.
#3 Tymal Mills
Left-arm pacer Tymal Mills has blown hot and cold with his performances in the recent years, mainly due to injury concerns. However, Mills impressed the cricket fraternity by finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps in nine appearances at an economy of 7.83.
Mills is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in the Vitality Blast with 24 wickets in 13 games at an economy of 7.57. His performances have helped Sussex cement themselves in the second spot on the points table.
The Brave will want their key pacer to continue his good form in the Men's Hundred 2024 as well.
#4 Adil Rashid
The cunning right-arm spinner, Adil Rashid impressed with his performances in the last season of the Men's Hundred for the Northern Superchargers. He finished with 11 wickets in eight games at an impressive economy of 7.53. His best figures of 4/18 came against the Manchester Originals.
The 2024 T20 World Cup saw Adil emerge as England's joint-highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps in eight games, with 4/18 coming against Oman.
With 341 wickets in 303 T20 games at an economy of 7.45, the veteran spinner is a valuable player for the Superchargers.
#5 Jofra Archer
The right-arm speedster, Jofra Archer returned to international cricket after more than a year in May 2024. He picked up three wickets in as many games against Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The showpiece event witnessed him emerge as the joint-highest wicket-taker for England with 10 scalps at an economy of 7.21. Although he is fit, the team management decided not to rush him for a red-ball return against West Indies.
With around a month's rest, Archer will be fresh and raring to perform for the side in the Men's Hundred 2024. When talking about his T20 record, Archer has 182 wickets in 145 appearances at an economy of 7.68.