5 scintillating performances by Indian bowlers in T20I

T20 format, in many ways, revolutionized the landscape of cricket. Ever since the 1st official T20 match was played between Durham and Nottinghamshire in 2003, T20 format has been expanding its effect on an exponential scale. The empty stadium seats due to lack of interest in public gradually began to sell like hot cakes and new tournaments like Big Bash and IPL emerged that captivated audience all over the world.

T20 format brought a freshness quotient with it and its fast-paced nature yielded an instant connection with the fans. One of the major aspects was that with the advent of the T20, psychological barriers started to get broken.

The requirement of better fielding, quick scoring and adaptive strategies based on situational awareness came to surface. Players were exposed to new challenges and tough situations. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see a team win the match when it needs over 50 runs in last 4 overs.

While it seemed a good inference to make that T20 would be a batsman's game, it has not always been like that. Amidst all odds, bowlers said "Challenge Accepted" and came up with some of the finest creative bowling strategies and magical spells to bamboozle a perfectly healthy batting line-up.

Bowlers have changed the course and outcome of a match on numerous occasions. Indian wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav's recent spell of 4-0-24-5 in the 1st T20I against England is a perfect example. Let us take a look at 5 magnificent spells by Indian bowlers in T20I cricket.

#1 RP Singh (4-0-13-4 vs South Africa)

RP Singh played a vital role in India's T20 World Cup win in 2007

The underrated Indian pacer carried forward the ICC World T20, 2007 campaign for India at Durban by decimating the strong South African bowling line-up. Batting first, India managed to register 153 runs on the board and desperately needed early breakthroughs. RP Singh came to the rescue as he sent Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith packing in quick successions.

RP didn't allow the batsmen any room or width to free their hands. He followed up by scalping the crucial wickets of Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel to help India register a 37-run victory. Till date, this spell is widely regarded as one of the best display of bowling by an Indian bowler in T20 cricket.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin (3.2-0-11-4 vs Australia)

Ashwin celebrating after getting rid of Glenn Maxwell

One of the best spinners to wear the Indian colours, Ashwin displayed a top-notch performance against Australia in ICC World T20, 2014 at Dhaka. India put a competitive target of 160. Australian team consisted of some of the most dangerous batsmen and India needed a win to carry their campaign ahead. The then-skipper MS Dhoni called Ashwin to scalp the top-order of the opposition.

Ashwin cleaned up the lethal opening-duo of Aaron Finch and David Warner. Australian batsmen continued to struggle against him as he put on a clinic of spin bowling. He utilized every variation in his arsenal like carrom-ball and slower deliveries. In the 10th over, he scalped the dangerous Glenn Maxwell and later, sent James Muirhead packing to help India win by 73 runs.

#3 Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (4-0-24-5 vs South Africa)

Bhuvaneshwar is an integral part of India's bowling attack

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's abilities as a fast bowler who can understand the conditions and swing the ball very well are widely regarded in the cricketing world. In a T20 match against South Africa in Johannesburg earlier this year, he proved why he is special when he single-handedly guided India to a 28-run victory and became the 2nd Indian bowler to secure a 5-wicket haul in T20 cricket.

Chasing a massive target of 204, South African openers started off well. However, Bhuvaneshwar provided 2 crucial break-throughs of JJ Smuts and JP Duminy to get India on track. He employed numerous variations like Knuckleballs and slower ones to uproot the African batting line-up. In the 18th over, he dismissed the set batsman Reeza Hendricks who was batting at 70. He followed up by picking the wickets of Klaasen and Morris in the same over to seal India's fate with a victory.

#5 Yuzvendra Chahal (4-0-25-6 vs England)

Chahal has been a great find for Indian cricket.

This magnificent spell by the wrist spinner Chahal came against England in Feb 2017 during England's tour of India where he ripped apart the sound English batting attack on his own. This performance was so good that it was named "ICC T20I Performance of the Year 2017". The leg-spin magic he cast on the English batsmen were too much for the guests as they managed to score 127 and lost the match by 75 runs.

India set a huge target of 203 for England. Chahal was brought into the attack in the 2nd over which saw Billings depart. The English were chasing the target with ease as they were 119/2 in the 13th over. Skipper Kohli gave the responsibility to Chahal in the 14th over. He dismissed Eoin Morgan and Joe Root in two consecutive deliveries that changed the momentum of the match. Later, he scalped Stokes, Ali, and Jordan. The score drastically changed from 119/3 to 127/10 and India won the game with 75 runs to spare

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin (again) (4-0-8-4 vs Sri Lanka)

Ashwin has been a true match-winner for India

One of the most enigmatic displays of spin bowling was witnessed in Vizag where India took on Sri Lanka in a T20 contest on 14th Feb 2016. The man of the hour was the terrific off-spinner Ashwin who rose to the occasion once again for his country. This match was perhaps one of the worst memories of Sri Lankan cricket as the Lankans were restricted to 82 runs in 18 overs.

Sri Lankan openers Dickwella and Dilshan walked out to bat. Much to everyone's surprise, Dhoni gave the first over to Ashwin. Ashwin proved the skipper's decision right by dismissing both of these batsmen in the first over itself. Further, he destroyed the middle-order by taking the wickets of Chandimal and Gunaratne in 3rd and 5th over respectively. The scoreboard read 20/4 in 4.2 overs.

Indian bowlers capitalized on the opportunity and restricted Sri Lanka to 82. India won the match easily by completing the chase in 13.5 overs.

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