With the 2016 Indian Premier League fast approaching, Paul Radley picks his top 10 bowlers set to shine at the tournament.
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1. Samuel Badree (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Two for 16 off the first four overs from one end in a world final. It felt as though the best bowler in the game in this format was just showing off against England in Kolkata. A few weeks back he won the first Pakistan Super League with Islamabad United, too. And, despite all that, he still does not seem to quite have the status to go with his growing list of achievements. Maybe a successful IPL will change that.
2. Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
If bowling in Twenty20 cricket, especially when tasked with sending down the starting and ending overs, is about keeping nerves in check, then Bumrah clearly has the right stuff. At the World T20 he showed he can prosper when things are against him. Against Bangladesh in the epic pool match, India ended up winning off the final ball, he shelled a simple catch, but recovered his poise amazingly with ball in hand.
3. Mustafizur Rahman (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Rubber-wristed revelation from Bangladesh. Troubled by a side injury of late, so he may have to be nursed through his debut IPL to get the best out of him. The left-arm seamer has given plenty of reason in his short career so far to believe he will be a star for Sunrisers — most recently in the form of his five-wicket haul against a hitherto rampant New Zealand at the World T20.
4. Ravi Ashwin (Rising Pune Supergiants)
The fact Ashwin, a two-time winner with Chennai, has the second best economy rate among IPL bowlers is telling. His rate of conceding only 6.45 runs per over is bettered only by Sunil Narine, whose effectiveness after remodelling his action remains to be seen. The next best on the list are Shaun Pollock, Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath, veterans from the early days of the IPL.
5. Mitchell Starc (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Of the top 15 leading wicket-takers last season (Starc was fifth best, with 20) the Australian quick bowler was comfortably the most miserly, with an economy rate of 6.76 runs per over. Since then, he has registered the fastest delivery ever recorded in a Test match, against New Zealand in Perth in November. Expect him to be a real threat for RCB.
6. Imran Tahir (Delhi Daredevils)
Sort of like a Samuel Badree Lite — which is no bad thing. Tahir probably has a few more tricks up his sleeve than the West Indian leg-spinner, too, even if he does not exert quite the same stranglehold. A delight to watch, not only due to his skills with the ball but also by way of his eccentric celebrations.
7. Ashish Nehra (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Proof that T20 is an old man’s game, Nehra has been enjoying a fine Indian summer. The left-armer, who turns 37 during the IPL, was one of the first names on the teamsheet during India’s recent Asia Cup win, and their subsequent advance to the semi-final of the World T20. He took 22 wickets in 16 games last season.
8. Adam Milne (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
His IPL pedigree is precisely nil, but the New Zealand fast-bowler could conceivably be a smash hit in his debut campaign with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Milne was clocked at 95mph by the World T20 speedgun. In harness with Mitchell Starc at RCB, he could be frightening.
9. James Faulkner (Gujarat Lions)
The Australian all-rounder, who was man of the match in last year’s World Cup final, would be higher in this list if he had not been so summarily schooled by Virat Kohli in the classic encounter with India in Mohali this month. Still, though, not many have got the better of Kohli of late, and Faulkner’s box of tricks should still be good enough to test everyone else.
10. Mitchell McClenaghan (Mumbai Indians)
An unheralded star of Mumbai’s title success last season, with 18 wickets in 12 matches over the course of the campaign, including a decisive haul of three for 25 in the final. He further embellished his reputation by beating Trent Boult and Tim Southee to selection alongside New Zealand’s battery of spin bowlers at the World T20. Against Australia in Dharamsala, he returned career best T20I figure of three for 17.
pradley@thenational.ae