As the ICC World Cup 2023 approaches, India’s cricket team appears to be in excellent form, with a batting unit producing substantial runs and bowlers consistently taking wickets. Victories in the recent Asia Cup and series wins against Australia have boosted the team’s confidence. However, former Pakistani cricketer Saeed Anwar has offered a word of caution to the Indian team, pointing out some potential flaws that could hinder their World Cup campaign.
Saeed Anwar commended the explosive innings played by Sean Abbott in the 2nd ODI against India and emphasized that death bowling is an area where India needs improvement. He expressed his thoughts by stating, “But that inning of S. Abbott was gorgeous & terrible for India. In addition, I can sum up by saying that India is the favorite to win the WC, but those small boundaries & death bowling will be the cause to prevent them.”
One of the key concerns highlighted by Saeed Anwar is India’s performance in the death overs, which are typically the final 10 overs of an One Day International (ODI) match. In the 20 ODI matches played by India in 2023, the team’s economy rate in the death overs (41-50) stands at 7.82 runs per over. This rate is higher than that of some of India’s strong competitors in the ICC World Cup 2023, including New Zealand (7.91) and South Africa (7.89). Among the participating teams, England boasts the best economy rate in the death overs at 6.74.
The recent India-Australia series has showcased India’s bowling prowess. In the first ODI, the pace attack led by Mohammed Shami limited the Australian innings to just 276 runs. During the second ODI, spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put up a stellar performance, restricting the Australian batters. Thanks to the exceptional bowling efforts of the Indian team, they secured a 99-run victory in the rain-disrupted second ODI.
Saeed Anwar’s observations serve as a reminder of the challenges that India may face in the upcoming ICC World Cup and the importance of fine-tuning their strategies, particularly in the crucial death overs, to enhance their chances of success in the tournament.
