Ranking India's best bowlers in ODIs ahead of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup
The Indian Cricket team will begin its 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign on June 5th against South Africa at Southampton. The two-time winners are one of the favorites for the world title this year having dominated several teams at home and away.
Virat Kohli's men are one of the most balanced limited overs sides currently and are sure to continue their impressive run at the grandest stage of all this summer.
One of the main aspects behind their success has been the emergence of quality bowlers who have dominated across different conditions. With the 2019 World Cup in mind, let us look at India's best bowlers in the ODI format currently.
#7 Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja won the Golden Ball for being the highest wicket-taker during India's victorious 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign in England. A perfect limited-overs player, Jadeja is a useful lower-order batsman and a brilliant athlete.
Though he came in as a replacement to the injured Axar Patel during the 2018 Asia Cup, he proved himself by picking up seven wickets in four matches. It was a dream comeback into the Indian ODI squad for Jadeja, who cemented his place in the Indian squad after his Asia Cup heroics.
In the ODI series against West Indies, Jadeja took seven wickets in four matches and followed it up with two wickets against Australia. Though he is a part of the squad against New Zealand, he is yet to play a game.
Verdict: Jadeja is someone who can restrict the opposition by bowling tight lengths and provide breakthroughs at crucial junctures apart from his excellent fielding and valuable contributions with the bat.
#6 Hardik Pandya
The all-rounder returned to the Indian ODI XI for the third ODI against New Zealand at the Bay Oval after serving the ban (due to the Koffee with Karan show controversy) and took two wickets apart from taking a stunner to dismiss Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson. Pandya finished 2017 as India's second highest wicket-taker with 31 scalps in 28 matches.
Though he a poor outing in the ODIs against England last year, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the three-match T20Is with six wickets to his name and took 10 wickets in four Test matches. The talented 25-year-old is India's prime fifth bowler option and is sure to replicate his T20I and Test success in the English conditions during the 2019 World Cup.
Final verdict: Pandya provides the perfect balance to the Indian side and his spells will be crucial to the Men in Blue's bowling strategies.