New Delhi. The popularity of T20 cricket has grown so rapidly that it seems to threaten the existence of Test and ODI cricket. T20 format is attracting cricket lovers in today’s busy life. The reason for this is that there will be a flurry of fours-sixes and the result of the match will be decided in just 40 overs. While the batsmen have ‘ball-ball’ in this format, the bowlers seem to be struggling. This is the reason why bowlers who give 7 or less runs per over are highly preferred in this format. There are some bowlers who manage to take wickets despite being very ‘stingy’ in terms of runs. Surprisingly, there are more spinners than fast bowlers. Chief among these spinners are Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga.
All these spinners will be the center of attention in the T20 World Cup to be held in June 2024. Currently, fans are divided on who is the best spinner in T20Is. Rashid Khan is considered by most cricket lovers to be the best spinner in T20 (and ODI too). If we look at the ‘numbers’, India’s Kuldeep Yadav is currently seen ahead of this wrist spinner from Afghanistan. While ‘Chinaman’ Kuldeep is better than Rashid in bowling average and strike rate (balls bowled per wicket), the Afghan spinner leads in economy (runs conceded per over). It is also important to keep in mind that Rashid (85 matches) has played more than twice as many matches as Kuldeep (35 matches). He only returned to cricket in March after back surgery and is still nowhere near his best. Even in IPL 2024, Rashid’s bowling performance so far has been mediocre.
Kuldeep Yadav is the best in bowling average
If we talk about the best bowling average in T20Is among the players from the full member countries of ICC, Kuldeep Yadav is at the first position and Rashid Khan is at the second position. Kuldeep has so far taken 59 wickets in 35 T20 Internationals at an average of 14.10, while Rashid has taken 138 wickets in 85 T20Is at an average of 14.27. Both the bowlers have taken 5 wickets in an innings twice, but Rashid’s (5 times) record for taking four wickets in an innings is better than Kuldeep’s (once).
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Kuldeep is also good in strike rate but Rashid.
Apart from bowling average, Kuldeep’s economy figures are also better than Rashid’s. Left arm wrist spinner Kuldeep’s strike rate is 12.54 while Rashid’s is 14.10 which means Kuldeep has taken one wicket every 12.54 balls on average while Rashid has taken one wicket every 14.10 balls on average. If Kuldeep is overshadowed in bowling average and strike rate, Rashid’s figures in economy are better. The leg-break bowler from Afghanistan has averaged 6.07 runs per over in T20 Internationals, while Kuldeep has averaged 6.74 runs.
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Different styles from both the bowlers
Both Rashid and Kuldeep are bowlers of different styles. Rashid does not turn the ball much but is very quick in the air and ‘fools’ the batsmen with his pace. Even the famous batsman fails to ‘read’ Rashid’s googly bowling stump-to-stump. On the other hand, left-arm wrist spinners (Chinamen) like Kuldeep are very rare in world cricket right now. Googlies and fouls are the special ‘effects’ of Kuldeep’s bowling. By changing the speed of the ball and its flight, they create trouble for the opposing batsmen. Both Kuldeep and Rashid are currently playing in IPL 2024. Kuldeep is part of the Delhi Capitals team, while Rashid belongs to the Gujarat Titans.
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Hasaranga is third among current bowlers
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga is currently third in bowling average among players from full member countries playing cricket. Hasaranga has taken 104 wickets in 65 T20s so far. His bowling average is 15.56 while the economy is 6.84. Hasaranga is better than Rashid Khan in strike rate (13.65). Hasaranga has taken four wickets in an innings thrice but his column for taking 5 wickets in an innings in T20Is is currently empty. Hasaranga, who took a hat-trick in his debut ODI, has also taken a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup 2021. It is believed that the wickets of West Indies and America will prove helpful for the spin bowlers, in which case Kuldeep, Rashid and Hasranga can prove to be ‘trump cards’ for their team in the T20 World Cup. India’s 15-man squad also includes wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has taken the most wickets (96) for the country in T20Is.
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Kuldeep will be playing in the T20 World Cup for the first time
Rashid Khan has so far taken 23 wickets in 15 matches in three T20 World Cups at an average of 16.17 and an economy of 6.37, during which four wickets for 9 runs has been his best performance. Similarly, Wanindu Hasaranga has taken 31 wickets in 16 matches in two T20 World Cups at an excellent average of 11.45 and an economy of 5.81, during which three wickets for 8 runs is his best performance. Kuldeep Yadav will play in the T20 World Cup for the first time. Naturally, they will want to make this big T20 tournament a memorable one for themselves, just like last year’s ODI World Cup. Let us tell you that Kuldeep took 15 wickets in 10 ODI World Cup matches at an average of 24.53, during which his economy was 4.32.
Tags: ICC T20 World Cup, IPL 2024, Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan, T20 World Cup, Team India
First published: May 3, 2024, 08:34 IST