T20 World Cup 2024: Rating top teams based on their bowling unit

West Indies vs England second T20I. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Batters may win their team games by scoring truckloads of runs but bowlers too play a major role in winning tournaments. This cliché phrase will have a lot of relevance in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Although 20-over cricket is designed for the batters, the bowlers will be crucial to the team’s success.

If reports are to be believed, the pitches in West Indies, one of the venues for the T20 World Cup, will be slower and help the bowlers more. This will help spinners and pace bowlers with variations to dominate the tournament. For the same reason, most of the team has strengthened their bowling attack this time instead of going with a batting-heavy line-up.

Here are the teams rated based on their bowling unit for the 2024 T20 World Cup:

10. West Indies (5/10)

West Indies vs England second T20I. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Co-hosts West Indies have the worst bowling unit in the tournament. Although they have various options, the lack of notable spinners and pacers may hurt them. Alzarri Joseph and Gabba hero Shamar Joseph are the designated pacers in their line-up. The two will have assistance from all-rounders Jason Holder, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.

Notably, Russell had an effective outing with the ball for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024. Windies’ spin unit looks weak as they rely heavily on current World No. 3 T20I bowler Akeil Hosein. They need to bank on inexperienced Gudakesh Motie and all-rounder Roston Chase for middle-over duties.

9. Bangladesh (5.5/10)

Bangladesh Cricket Team. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Bangladesh have named a spin-heavy bowling unit for the marquee event. Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam are the specialist spinners in their ranks. Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan will also look to trouble the opposition with their spin magic.

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman will be the key weapon in their pace unit. Shoriful Islam also brings the left-arm pace option for them. Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib are the two-right arm fast bowlers in the squad. Meanwhile, the absence of pace spearhead Ebadot Hossain due to injury is a major setback for The Tigers.

8. Sri Lanka (6/10)

Sri Lanka Team. (Photo Source: Sri Lanka Cricket)

Sri Lanka also have a wide range of bowling options both in the pace and spin departments. Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka will spearhead the pace attack while Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara will bring the X factor. Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka are the two dependable pace-bowling all-round options in the squad.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana will lead the former champions’ spin unit. All-rounders Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis are also effective spinners who can chip in with some crucial wickets.

7. South Africa (6.5/10)

South Africa Team ( Source : X / Twitter )

Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will lead the pace attack for South Africa in the marquee event. Rabada had a decent outing in IPL 2024, while Nortje had a forgettable one. Both will be supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.

The Proteas management has paid more attention to their spin unit. Interestingly, they picked three left-arm spinners – Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, respectively. All-rounders Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs will provide them with right-arm spin options.

6. Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket. (Source – Twitter/X)

Pakistan will head into the tournament with five specialist fast bowlers – Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas Afridi and Naseem Shah. Their fast-bowling department looks promising as usual but they failed to maintain the balance between pace and spin.

Despite being the highest wicket-taker in PSL 2024, leg-spinner Usama Mir was overlooked by the selectors. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan are the specialist spinners in their squad. They will also get some help from all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed.

5. Afghanistan (7/10)

Afghanistan. (Photo Source: Twitter/Afghanistan)

Afghanistan have a formidable spin unit, but they lack a notable pacer in their squad. The likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rehman, Noor Ahmed and experienced campaigner Mohammad Nabi are their main strength. All these spinners can be lethal and have established their names in the international arena.

When it comes to fast bowling, there are plenty of options but none of them have a history of threatening the opposition. The team’s specialist pacers are Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad Malik. All-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat will play their part.

4. England (7.5/10)

England. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Defending champions England have plenty of bowling options and quality all-rounders in their line-up. Jofra Archer is back in the team after a long gap but his efficiency is yet to be determined. Mark Wood and Reece Topley will act as specialist pacers, while all-rounders Sam Curran and Chris Jordan will contribute their share.

England’s spin department will heavily rely on Adil Rashid. The leg-spinner is currently the world’s No.1 T20 bowler and will aim to remain at No.1 in the coming month with impressive performances in the USA and West Indies. Rashid will be assisted by all-rounders Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone in the middle-overs.

3. Australia (8/10)

Australia vs West Indies. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Australia have a wide range of bowling options. Led by left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, their pace unit includes Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, captain Mitchell Marsh and all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green. Starc was adjudged Player of the Match in IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 and Final, proving why he is called a big-match player.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa is expected to play a key role for Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024. He has a lot of variation that can be very effective on West Indies’ tricky surfaces. Ashton Agar and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will provide necessary assistance in the spin department.

2. India (8.5/10)

Team India. (Photo Source: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)

Although India boast a strong bowling attack, they will be worried about the pace bowling department, which will rely heavily on Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya are other pace bowling options. Vice-captain Hardik had a forgettable outing in IPL 2024, while Siraj and Arshdeep failed to produce consistent performances for their respective teams. Dube bowled only a handful of overs this season.

Also Check: India’s T20 World Cup squad

India have included four spinners in their squad and the unit looks promising. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav had a fruitful outing in the IPL. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is also a wicket-taking bowler. All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are also in great form and will look to trouble the opposition with their left-arm spin.

1. New Zealand (9/10)

Pakistan vs New Zealand. (Source -Getty Images)_

New Zealand decided to go for the T20 World Cup with an experienced squad that includes two lethal fast bowlers, Trent Boult (5th WC appearance) and Tim Southee (7th WC appearance). Both are excellent at operating with the new ball and Boult is known for taking wickets in the very first over of the innings. Other fast bowling options in their ranks are Matt Henry, express pacer Lockie Ferguson, and all-rounders like Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham.

Also Check: T20 World Cup 2024: Rating Teams based on their final squads

They also have experienced campaigners in the spin department in the form of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi. Apart from the duo, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra can also contribute to the spin attack.