You may know Team India for their batting in all forms of the game. Still, you have to admit that their bowling is incredibly underrated, not just in terms of performances but also for having an array of different bowlers. From the 2007 World Cup Winning Campaign to now, India has produced some of the finest T20 bowlers, and all of them can be compared with the SENA country bowlers.
It could be because the Batters of India have been too great or simply because the Indian bowlers have been underrated. Today, we will be unfolding the Top 10 Indian T20 Bowlers along with their stat to understand how great they are and are continuing to do so.
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
He is one of India’s premium bowlers and now falling onto the veteran fast bowlers, someone who can easily swing the bowl in both ways, he is indeed none other than Bhuvenshwar Kumar. You may see fast bowlers around the world who are express and quite dangerous to face, but rarely do you see fast bowlers who are bowling at 140+ kph and swinging the ball both ways. The boy from Meerut has undoubtedly been a revelation with his consistency, having 90 wickets in just 87 with an astonishing economy rate of 6.96.
My earliest memory of Bhuvi was his 5-wicket haul for just four runs against Afghanistan, which is a record of least runs conceded in a T20 spell. He may be on the downside with Team India, but you would not be surprised if you see him back on the side after this year’s IPL.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 87 | 86 | 1791 | 10 | 90 | 5/4 | 6.96 | 23.1 | 3 | 2 |
| IPL | 160 | 160 | 3568 | 12 | 170 | 5/19 | 7.39 | 25.9 | 2 | 2 |
2. Jasprit Bumrah
A fast bowler who does not go wrong with anything apart from his physique; if you had to make a guess, then evidently, it would be Jasprit Bumrah. Currently one of the best bowlers in all forms of the game and someone you will hardly see having a bad game. The game barely goes an inch wrong with his game. His death bowling is highly regarded by the likes of Waqar Yunus and Wasim Akram. Right now, Bumrah sits as the frontman among the pacers for the men in blues and his IPL side, Mumbai Indians.
In modern-day cricket, which is the batter’s game, it is shocking to see that a fast bowler who bowls at the early stages and death overs has an economy rate of 6.55. Among all his stellar performances, it is pretty hard to pick, but if I had to choose, it would be his 5 for 10 against KKR. Those four overspells define how short bowling should be done.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 62 | 61 | 1331 | 10 | 74 | 3/11 | 6.55 | 19.66 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 120 | 120 | 2742 | 7 | 145 | 5/10 | 7.39 | 23.3 | 2 | 1 |
- Yuzvendra Chahal
After Anil Kumble, if there were a wrist spinner who has been consistent and performing, then I would only think of Yuzi Chahal. It is quite saddening that he is not playing for India at the moment, given the likes of Kuldeep, but that does not make us forget his contributions to the international circuit and IPL. An absolute veteran for RCB during his tenure and now currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Yuzu has always been a player who was among the wickets. Yuzu even has the record for most T20 wickets as an Indian.
India will look to pick an extra spinner while keeping Kuldeep and Bishnoi as their leading man for the World Cup Squad, and I genuinely hope he can make a comeback for Team India as his experience can be influential.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 80 | 79 | 1764 | 2 | 96 | 6/25 | 8.19 | 25.1 | 2 | 1 |
| IPL | 145 | 144 | 3173 | 4 | 187 | 5/40 | 7.66 | 21.7 | 6 | 1 |
- Ravindra Jadeja
Rockstar, as the late and great Shane Warne once called him, Ravindra Jadeja, has been around of Team India since forever, which has been going in all departments of the game and in all formats of the game. Jaddu is not someone who is just about taking wickets, but he will bowl the crucial middle overs of the game, putting the batters under pressure or getting unlikely breakthroughs, changing the pace of the game. This is why Jaddu has an economy under 8 in IPL and T20is. He has been one of the silent assassins for MSD, and he delivers in every way whenever the team requires him.
One of his greatest displays of cricket was when he scored a 48 from 29 balls along with the bowling figures of 5 for just 16 runs against the Deccan Chargers.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 66 | 64 | 1272 | 4 | 53 | 3/15 | 7.1 | 28.4 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 226 | 197 | 3547 | 2 | 152 | 5/16 | 7.6 | 29.6 | 3 | 1 |
- Ravi Chandran Ashwin
A thinking bowler and someone who carries a Pandora’s box when bowling, Ravi Ashwin is by far one of the greatest spinners the game has ever produced. You may see Ashwin as an off-spinner, but in reality, he is actually a mystery spinner with at least five types of variations, which cannot be understood when looking at his bowling fingers as he hides just before the release point. This is precisely why he has an economy of 6.9 in T20is and 7.01 in IPL.
Ashwin forever seemed like a CSK boy, but it was pretty unfortunate that CSK could not retain him for the likes of Dhoni, Raina, and Shane Watson. His 20-wicket season during the 2011 IPL winning campaign for CSK will always be close to my heart.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 65 | 65 | 1452 | 3 | 72 | 4/8 | 6.9 | 23.2 | 2 | 0 |
| IPL | 197 | 194 | 4194 | 4 | 171 | 4/34 | 7.01 | 28.7 | 1 | 0 |
- Axar Patel
After Jaddu and Hardik, Axar Patel is one of the premium all-rounders for team India who is given an instrumental role in all formats of the game. In Spinny conditions like Chennai or in the pitches of Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, Axar is a formidable choice for team India. And, since the T20 World Cup will be happening in the Caribbean and the United States, having a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder is a no-brainer.
While it may not seem to you that Axar picks, he is crucial in having breakthroughs in the middle overs where he’ll break a partnership by teasing the ball, which is why you won’t see him take a lot of fi-fers and four-fers. Axar’s four-wicket haul in just five deliveries, including a hat trick against Gujrat Lions, is a testament to what I just told you.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 52 | 50 | 979 | 1 | 49 | 3/9 | 7.26 | 24.2 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 136 | 134 | 2835 | 2 | 112 | 4/21 | 7.24 | 30.5 | 1 | 0 |
- Kuldeep Yadav
The only chinaman of Team India and someone who I believe will be remembered as one of the greatest spinners India has ever had, is, of course, Kuldeep Yadav. After having consecutive years with Team India with Chahal, he was dropped from the side, and now he recently has made a comeback onto the side through his IPL and List A performances. Kuldeep feels like one of those with his relaxed reaction and variations as someone who’ll sustain in the long run. In spinny conditions, the duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal, complemented by Axar and Jadeja, can destroy any elite opposition.
Given his record of 59 wickets off just 35 matches with a ridiculous economy of 6.74, it is evident that Kuldeep is one of the main men for Team India in the World Cup. Kuldeep recent fifer against SA in the 3rd T20 was just spin bowling as an art.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 35 | 34 | 740 | 2 | 59 | 5/17 | 6.74 | 14.1 | 1 | 2 |
| IPL | 73 | 71 | 1488 | 1 | 71 | 4/14 | 8.12 | 28.4 | 3 | 0 |
- Arshdeep Singh
A bowler reminiscent of the great Zaheer Khan, Arshdeep Singh has made a name for himself in a very short period of time. His economy rate may seem a bit unconvincing to you, but for someone who bowls at the death regularly, it is relatively normal and as he keeps on gaining more experience, you will surely see that economy rate going lower. Apart from that, all of Arshdeep’s states are impressive as he frequently gets breakthroughs in the early overs.
Given his consistent performances, having Arshdeep in the pace unit for the Men in Blues could be a possibility. Arshdeep’s five-wicket haul against the RR’s was a brilliant display of pace bowl in accordance with the field.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 44 | 44 | 899 | 2 | 62 | 4/37 | 8.63 | 20.9 | 1 | 0 |
| IPL | 51 | 51 | 1062 | 1 | 57 | 5/32 | 8.74 | 27.1 | 1 | 1 |
- Mohammad Shami
The list would’ve been unfinished without including the always-performing man of the men in blues, Mohammad Shami. While he has been underrated in T20Is, which is probably due to his high economy rate, Shami has always been a wild old customer in the IPL. The veteran has an absurd 127 wickets in 110 matches with two 4-wicket hauls. And, being the highest wicket-taker in the ICC ODI World Cup, Mohammad Shami would definitely fancy his chances of getting selected for team India.
Shami’s 4-wicket haul against the Delhi Capitals, rippling through the entire middle order all by himself, is as good as fast bowling gets.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 23 | 23 | 477 | 1 | 24 | 3/15 | 8.94 | 29.6 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 110 | 110 | 2426 | 3 | 127 | 4/11 | 8.43 | 26.9 | 2 | 0 |
- Deepak Chahar
An avid Bangladeshi cricket fanatic will always remember Deepak Chahar, who still has the world record of 6 wickets off seven runs in fours in a T2Oi, which includes a Hat-trick against Bangladesh. He is a nightmare for the Bangladeshi fans. He has gone somewhat quiet now in the Indian cricket circuit but we have seen Deepak performing always in the IPL. MSD lethally uses him during the powerplay overs and his stats speak for themselves.
At 31 and still performing, Deepak has plenty to give to the team India and his fans and I wouldn’t be shocked breaching the men in blues side for the World Cup.
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | W | BB | Econ | Avg | 4W | 5W |
| T20I | 25 | 25 | 540 | 2 | 31 | 6/7 | 8.3 | 24.1 | 0 | 1 |
| IPL | 73 | 73 | 1528 | 6 | 72 | 4/13 | 7.92 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
Players who will likely be on this list in the future
Over the years, we will see plenty of players being on this list or even going higher. Players like Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Umran Malik, Mohammad Siraj, and various other bowlers you think of will undoubtedly be amongst this tally of outstanding bowlers in the future. Some of these bowlers will define the game on their own terms and create a history that the world is indeed not ready to witness.
To Conclude!
In a nutshell, India boasts a formidable lineup of T20 bowlers, showcasing a blend of experience and emerging talent. The array is diverse, from the seasoned Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing mastery to the precision of Jasprit Bumrah’s death bowling. Spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, and Kuldeep Yadav provide a spin web that can entangle any opposition. All-rounder Axar Patel’s vital role, the promising Arshdeep Singh’s breakthroughs, and the relentless Mohammad Shami’s pace further enhance India’s bowling prowess. Deepak Chahar’s historic T20I performance adds to the rich tapestry. As we appreciate these stalwarts, It is quite inevitable that some of these players will be replaced by the upcoming young guns, and some of them will be higher up the order.
