India's 3 highest T20I wicket-takers in West Indies ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup Super-Eights ft. Hardik Pandya
Before coming to the 2024 T20 World Cup, Indian bowlers wouldn't have imagined taking as many as 25 wickets in just three matches. But that's just how the group stage in the USA was. Even the bowlers with the most question marks on them found success as 120-plus scores seemed impossible.
Now, the plot is going to thicken. Flatter conditions in the West Indies for the Super-Eights will likely test the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh who couldn't find consistent performances on such tracks in IPL 2024. The question mark over Ravindra Jadeja's place ahead of Kuldeep Yadav might also get bolder.
However, it's not like Indian bowlers haven't been successful in the West Indies. Two of the three highest wicket-takers here are in the current squad.
Let's take a look at the top three:
#3 Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has always related to the West Indian culture and his friendship with Kieron Pollard used to be a beautiful one in the latter's playing days for Mumbai Indians. The Indian all-rounder has also found success with the ball in the Caribbean, picking up six wickets in as many games at an average of 22.16.
The six games have come across two tours in 2022 and 2023. He didn't pick up a wicket in the first match of the 2022 tour and the last match of the 2023 one. But those were the only two games where he also didn't finish his bowling quota.
His best spell - 3/35 - came in Providence, as he snapped up wickets of Rovman Powell, Brandon King, and Johnson Charles, albeit in a losing cause as the Windies chased down 153 within 19 overs. One thing that stands out in Pandya's record is the economy rate - 6.33 - the best among India's top-eight bowlers here.
#2 Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh finding form against the USA in the group stage is an excellent sign for India. Like with Pandya, the left-arm quick's ability to mix hard lengths with slower ones and swing is optimal for the conditions in the Carribean.
He's also India's second-highest wicket-taker here with seven scalps in six games at an average of 25.85.
Apart from the last match on the 2023 tour, Arshdeep hasn't gone wicketless in T20Is in West Indies. His best spell was arguably the first one - 2/24 - in Tarouba where he surprised Kyle Mayers with a slow bouncer in the second over and snapped Akeal Hosein with an inch-perfect yorker at the death.
#1 Ashish Nehra
Speaking of left-arm quicks, how can anyone keep out the 'OG' of India's T20 bowling scene, Ashish Nehra, from such lists?
Nehra picked up a brilliant 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 15.60 and an economy rate of 7.80 in T20Is in the West Indies. Amazingly, all five games were in the 2010 T20 World Cup, where he was India's best bowler. (Fun fact: One of the bowlers to take more wickets than Nehra was Australia's Steve Smith [12])
Nehra's exploits included two three-wicket hauls - against Afghanistan in India's tournament openers and then against the hosts. Sandwiched between them was an equally good 2/35 against Australia. His World Cup was ruined a bit by Chamara Kapugedara hitting a six against him to take Sri Lanka through to the next round.
Still, it serves as a reminder that had injuries not marred his career, Nehra might have retired with an impregnable T20I record in the West Indies.