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T20 has always been considered a batsmen's game. But a close look at the results of leagues around the globe gives a clear idea about the importance of bowlers in the batsmen-dominated game. The batting-heavy teams with weak bowling lineups have hardly won any titles whereas the majority of title winners are either well balanced or have a lethal bowling attack.
Even in the IPL, all those who have lifted the trophy had a very good bowling attack, or at least better attacks than their opponents in the knockout games. The likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Superkings have been successful due to their strong bowling which has helped them cross the finishing line, while the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals have always faltered at crucial junctions. As we near the twelfth season of the IPL, we look at the three best pace attacks for the upcoming season:
Chennai Superkings
The defending champions started the 2018 season as a spin-heavy team with a handy pace attack. The pace attack did not have any established international nor Indian pacers. The likes of Lungi Ngidi and Mark Wood were relatively new to international cricket and so was Shardul Thakur.
But the first match of the season saw Deepak Chahar trouble the likes of Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis with the new ball. By the end of the tournament, Chahar was one of the best new-ball bowlers of the season. Lungi Ngidi was included in the XI midway of the tournament and he improved by leaps and bounds, excelling both with the new ball as well as at the death.
Coming to the 2019 season, CSK released Mark Wood, who is currently in terrific form. And they bought back Mohit Sharma, the 2014 purple cap holder. Despite releasing Wood, who played only a single game last year, CSK holds a pretty strong pace attack.
With the new ball, Deepak Chahar and Lungi Ngidi form a threatening pair capable of taking wickets in heaps as well as being miserly economical. Dwayne Bravo and Shane Watson, who might not bowl much this season, will have the middle and a little death bowling responsibilities. Mohit Sharma has grown into an experienced death bowler.
Shardul Thakur, a hit the deck bowler, can be useful at any stage of the game. He has been a bit expensive at the death, but with Mohit Sharma back, CSK have options at the death with Ngidi and Mohit. Moreover, there is David Willey, who can be used to bring in more variety and KM Asif, whose express pace and bounce can be utilized based on situations.
The pace attack for CSK looks much stronger this time as compared to the 2018 season, especially with the evolution of Chahar and Ngidi last season and the return of Mohit Sharma.
Delhi Capitals
One of the three teams to have never won an IPL, Delhi Capitals have one of the most lethal pace attacks for the upcoming season. The attack had almost the same look last year too, but injuries deprived the Delhi-based franchise of the services of few of their fast bowlers.
Any team would fear facing the trio of Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult. Injury forced both Morris and Rabada to miss matches last season and Boult did not find much support from the remaining pacers. Rabada and Boult with the new ball will be as deadly as any. Morris has a knack of being amongst the wickets irrespective the stage of the game where he bowls. Putting the short balls and yorkers to good use, Morris has been brilliant at the death as well as in the middle overs.
Talking of the Indian pacers, the release of Mohammad Shami, who is in good white ball form at present might prove them costly. But the presence of the experienced Ishant Sharma holds them in good stead. Nathu Singh and Avesh Khan, with their raw pace, can prove to be difficult for the opposition if used wisely. The West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul might prove to be the trump card for Delhi this time with his flair. He might be particularly useful in case any of the three frontline pacers pull out midway for world cup preparations.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad are a team who have focused more on their bowling than their batting in recent years. The results finally started to show in the 2016 season and there has been no looking back since then. The 2016 champions ended up at the fourth place in 2017 edition and runner-ups in 2018. While other teams rely heavily on a couple of bowlers to pick wickets, SRH hunt in a pack.
The Hyderabad-based franchise went into auctions with almost all bases covered. The core of the attack remains the same as last year, except for the release of Brathwaite and acquisition of Vijay Shankar from Delhi Capitals. Bhuvneshwar, one of the best limited-overs bowlers around the globe at the moment, will be spearheading the attack. The new ball options for SRH include Bhuvi, Sandeep Sharma, Billy Stanlake and Khaleel Ahmed. Sandeep Sharma has been a very consistent new ball bowler for the past 3-4 years. Khaleel has gained much experience by playing international cricket and will be getting more game time this season.
Bhuvneshwar will also have the responsibility of taking care of the death bowling. But just like with the new ball, he has more than decent support at the death. Siddharth Kaul has been a consistent death bowler for SRH, Stanlake is a proven customer and the presence of Basil Thampi, who is good with his yorkers makes the death bowling look sorted.
Vijay Shankar with his medium pace will be a good option in the middle overs. And then there is T Natarajan, who was unused last year but can be used as a surprise package this time around. Overall, SRH not only have the strongest starting XI pace attack, but they also have a bench which is as lethal. As a unit, SRH's pace attack remains the best among all teams, just like every other season since 2016.
