Ranking the bowling line-ups of each team in the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 ft. India
The Super Eight stage of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup gets underway on Wednesday, June 19, with an encounter between the USA and South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. We have the eight best teams with us now who have been divided into two groups. Group 1 has Afghanistan, India, Australia and Bangladesh while Group 2 consists of the West Indies, USA, South Africa and England.
Sides with the best bowling attacks will be able to proceed further to the semifinals of this tournament and will be nicely placed to do well there too. As a result, in this listicle, we rank the bowling line-ups of each team in the Super 8:
#8 Bangladesh
Bangladesh perhaps has the most ordinary-looking bowling outfit in the Super Eight stage. The Tigers are extremely reliant on their senior warhorse Shakib Al Hasan, but unfortunately, he has failed to get going in this tournament so far.
He went wicketless in the first three games that his country played in and only ended up picking up a couple in their final group-stage encounter against Nepal.
Their seamers (especially Tanzim Hasan Sakib) have looked good at times, but the lack of quality in their ranks may end up hurting them in crucial encounters.
#7 USA
The United States of America, who scripted history by qualifying for the Super Eight stage on the first occasion of their participation in this tournament, do have a good bowling lineup. However, the inexperience in their ranks may end up going against them in this stage where they will have to compete against the likes of South Africa, England and the West Indies.
Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar, Harmeet Singh and company have a lot of skills under their belt, but the other - more experienced - sides may end up having a party at their expense if they fail to read the conditions well.
#6 West Indies
The West Indies, who did not face too much of a challenge in the group stages of this tournament except for a close game against New Zealand, will have to be at their very best from now. While Akeal Hosein has been entrusted with the new-ball responsibilities (and quite rightly so), the likes of Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase and Andre Russell may have to step up.
Alzarri Joseph has been one of the bright lights for the co-hosts this time, and if he keeps going the way he has done, the Windies will be unstoppable.
#5 England
England's bowling attack seems to be a tad undercooked in this tournament, and if one dares to say, it is a bit of a miracle that they have qualified for this stage in the first place. While Reece Topley and Jofra Archer do make up a good new-ball pair, it will be up to the likes of Sam Curran and Chris Jordan to follow up and keep the good work running.
It is not hard to see that the English bowling attack seems to be a tad thin on expertise, and this can go against them in this crucial juncture of the tournament.
Leggie Adil Rashid - save the 4-11 against minnows Oman - has not had a very good tournament and will need to step up.
#4 Afghanistan
Afghanistan have been one of the most consistent bowling units of this T20 World Cup. Although they lost their final group-stage encounter to the West Indies by a whopping 104 runs, they won their first three by stunning margins of 125 runs, 84 runs and seven wickets, respectively.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was unused by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, has been the best bowler of this tournament so far with 12 scalps to his name.
He has been complemented well by the likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Naveen-ul-Haq; the contributions of veteran Mohammad Nabi cannot be overlooked either.
#3 South Africa
South Africa have a rather solid-looking bowling lineup that will relish all the challenges coming their way in the Super Eight stage of this tournament.
With Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje leading the ranks and Ottniel Baartman and Marco Jansen following up, they have a lineup that is bound to threaten the best of the teams across this tournament.
Their seamers have been in fine fettle in this tournament, as have their spinners - Tabraiz Shamsi picked up four wickets to dismantle Nepal in a stunning encounter
#2 Australia
Australia have one of the finest bowling attacks in this tournament, led by their ODI and Test skipper Pat Cummins. With the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood playing their part and Nathan Ellis pulling his weight, this looks like a splendid bowling attack.
Spinner Adam Zampa adds a lot of bite to this attack in the middle overs, and with them having won all the matches in their group, their confidence will be skyrocketing.
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis too can chip in with his bowling; this is not to be overlooked.
#1 India
India have the best bowling unit across the tournament, and there would be no better time than the Super Eight stage for them to showcase their wares.
Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly the best fast bowler in white-ball cricket in the world at the moment, with Arshdeep Singh backing him up with his searing yorkers. Spinner Axar Patel has consistently shown his class, with the dynamic duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal waiting in the wings.
The biggest addition for India in this tournament has been the bowling form of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has hit the deck hard and got the ball to move around as well.