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The decade from 2010-2019 has been a mixed one for Indian cricket as far as one-day internationals are concerned. While they won the World Cup under MS Dhoni in 2011, they failed to go past the semi-final stage in the next two editions. India also won the Champions Trophy in 2013, but faltered at the final hurdle in 2017. Further, there was a disastrous CB series in Australia in 2012. Before this year’s World Cup, India beat Australia in Australia 2-1. However, the Aussies soon exacted revenge by defeating India in India as part of a five-match series.
India’s bowling in ODIs did not have a settled look in the first half of the decade. While left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan was at the fag end of his career, Ishant Sharma failed to make an impression in the format. Further, 2011 World Cup heroes Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel faded away rather quickly after the tournament even as Ashish Nehra battled injuries. It was only towards the second half of the decade that India’s ODI bowling starting having a more assured presence.
With the 2010-2019 decade coming to an end, here’s a look at the top five Indian ODI bowlers in this period.
#5 Ravindra Jadeja
Matches - 142, Wickets - 168, Average - 34.88, Economy Rate - 4.84, Best Figures - 5/36
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is India’s top wicket-taker in the decade. However, that is more down to the fact that he has played more number of matches than an indication of his wicket-taking ability. For most part, Jadeja has played the role of holding one end up for India, and trying to keep the runs in check. The same reflects in his average, which is just under 35, and the strike rate of 43.2. Jadeja’s economy rate of 4.84 defines his role as a bowler in the ODI squad.
Having said that, Jadeja has had his moments in ODIs. He was the leading wicket-taker in India’s Champions Trophy win in 2013 with 12 wickets. His career-best of 5 for 36 came in the same tournament, against West Indies in a group match. He lost his place in the Indian ODI team following a stretch of poor performances, including the 2017 Champions Trophy. The all-rounder made a comeback a year later and since has been a constant presence in all three formats.
Jadeja’s quick-scoring ability and scintillating fielding have given him an edge over senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the one-day team.
#4 Yuzvendra Chahal
Matches - 50, Wickets - 85, Average - 26.42, Economy Rate - 5.06, Best Figures - 6/42
Although he made his ODI debut as late as 2016, Yuzvendra Chahal has made such a stunning impact for India in the format that he had to be included in the Top 5 list. Coming through the IPL ranks, having impressed for Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore year after year, the leg-spinner has bamboozled the best of the modern era with his skills and variations.
Chahal’s two five-fors in the format have come against two of the strongest ODI teams in world cricket. He claimed 5 for 22 against South Africa at Centurion in February 2018. South Africa folded up for 118 batting first, and India clinched the match by nine wickets. Chahal’s wickets in the game included Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Chris Morris.
In January this year, Chahal picked up his career-best of 6 for 42 against the Aussies at Melbourne, running through the middle-order. The spinner’s heroics paved the way for India’s emphatic seven-wicket victory.
It was widely believed that Chahal and fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav would be India’s trump cards at the 2019 World Cup. In hindsight, India perhaps overexposed their spinners in the run-up to the tournament. Also, the pressure of expectations may have proved too much for the duo to handle.
#3 Kuldeep Yadav
Matches - 53, Wickets - 96, Average - 23.86, Economy Rate - 4.95, Best Figures - 6/25
Speaking of Kuldeep Yadav, the young chinaman bowler makes his entry at No.3 in the list. In a career that has run almost parallel to Chahal, Yadav has made his impact as a quick-learning bowler. He has never been afraid to toss the ball up, but there was criticism at times that he was too slow in the air, thus giving the batsmen ample time to set themselves up against him. Yadav though has made the adjustments and turned into India’s match-winning spinner.
The left-arm spinner’s finest moment came when he bowled a mesmerising spell against England at Nottingham in July 2018. After the hosts raced to 73 in 10.1 overs, Yadav put the breaks on the innings in the best way possible, by picking up wickets. He had six of them, and, before England knew, they had been bundled out for 268. Mind you, this was no weak England team. In fact, it was the same top and middle-order that would play starring roles in England’s World Cup triumph a year later. Yadav got them all -- Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler. It is a different matter that Yadav was taken for 72 in 10 overs by the same opponent in the World Cup.
Yadav should get better with experience though. His fighting abilities were evident in the second ODI of the 2017 series against Australia at Eden Gardens when, after being hit for 39 in seven overs, he came back and clinched a hat-trick -- the third Indian to do so in ODIs.
With some refining, Yadav can become the spinning game changer for India on a more consistent basis.
#2 Mohammed Shami
Matches - 70, Wickets - 131, Average - 24.71, Economy Rate - 5.47, Best Figures - 5/69
So sensational has Mohammed Shami been in the Test format over the last couple of seasons, his ability as an ODI strike bowler has been somewhat undermined. The fast bowler from Bengal has played a leading role in India’s last two World Cup campaigns, as India made it to the semifinals on both occasions. In the 2015 edition played in Australia and New Zealand, he was the fourth highest wicket-taker, with 17 wickets in seven matches at an average of 17.29 and a strike rate of 21.5.
Four years later, Shami played the World Cup in England under the cloud of some controversy. The experienced fast bowler sat out of India’s first few games, but a freak injury to Bhuvneshwar Kumar brought him into the reckoning, and Shami responded with a hat-trick against Afghanistan that saved India from embarrassment. He claimed 14 wickets in four games at an average of 13.78 and a strike rate of 15.07.
Of all the Indian bowlers with 100-plus wickets in the decade, Shami has the best strike rate of 27, which speaks volumes of his ability, and more than makes up for his slightly higher economy of 5.47.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah
Matches - 58, Wickets - 103, Average - 21.88, Economy Rate - 4.49, Best Figures - 5/27
Like Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah too made his ODI debut as recently as 2016. Yet, he deserves to be India’s No.1 bowler of the decade in the format. In a reasonably short period, Bumrah has become the leader of India’s bowling attack. His unorthodox action coupled with deadly accurate yorkers have made him almost unplayable, especially at the death.
While he got off to an impressive start with two four-fers against Zimbabwe early in his career, and a three-wicket haul against New Zealand. The critics were more interested in finding out how long he would last given his maverick bowling action. And, when he bowled that no ball in the Champions Trophy 2017 final against Pakistan, which cost India the big wicket of Fakhar Zaman, and the game, there were fears that he could become the next Chetan Sharma. However, Bumrah brushed aside all criticism to become one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment.
Bumrah’s best of 5 for 27 came against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in August 2017, which followed the 4 for 43 he picked up in the previous match of the series. Playing in his maiden World Cup this year, the 25-year-old led the Indian pace attack admirably on his young shoulders, claiming 18 wickets in nine games at an economy of 4.41. During the tournament, he also became the second-fastest Indian to 100 ODI wickets, behind only Shami.
Once he recovers from injury, more should be in store for this precious jewel of Indian cricket.
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