World Cup 2019: 3 bowling pairs that India will rely on at the mega event

World Cup 2019 is right around the corner, and fans around the world are waiting with bated breath for the action to begin.

All the 10 participating nations have already already reached England, and their preparations are in full swing. The teams are now playing warm-up games in a bid to get used to the English conditions. These warm-up games also give them an opportunity to try out different team combinations and narrow down on the final playing XI.

India have played one warm-up game so far, against New Zealand, which they lost because of a collective batting failure. Their second and final warm-up game is against Bangladesh on the 28th of May, after which they will start their World Cup campaign by squaring off against South Africa on the 5th of June.

Although India are going into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the title, they need to make sure that their batting and bowling combinations work well and play according to their potential.

In this article, we take a look at the three the Indian bowling pairs whose performance could determine where India end up at the end of the tournament. These bowlers may not be present in every match, as India might have to shuffle the attack around in order to accommodate for varying pitch conditions. But whenever these pairs bowl in tandem, they will hold the key to India's success.

#1 Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami at the start

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

In the English conditions, the ball will likely swing and seam a bit in the early overs. Taking wickets with the new ball will, therefore, be crucial in determining the final outcome of any match.

Most of the teams in the tournament have good hitters in their middle and lower middle order. In that context, early wickets with the new ball will be the most effective way of slowing down the scoring rate and restricting the opposition to manageable scores.

India will most probably start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami as their new ball pair. Bhuvneshwar's ability to swing the ball both ways will make him a big asset at the start, while Shami also has the ability of picking up wickets with the new ball.

If these two are able to take a few top order wickets, that would make the job of the other Indian bowlers much easier.

#2 Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs

The spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav

India have two wrist spinners in the squad, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. And these two have been among the biggest match-winners with the ball in recent ODIs.

Kuldeep and Chahal have taken heaps of wickets and frequently run through opposition batting lineups in the middle overs of the match. What makes these two spinners so special is the fact that they can take wickets and break partnerships with ease.

The Indian team management will be hoping that the spin duo will be at the top of their game in the World Cup. Kuldeep in particular has been going through a lean phase, and there will be quite a bit of pressure on him to get back to his best.

If Kuldeep and Chahal can replicate their past performance in England, then they will surely be the trump cards for India in the middle overs of every match.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the death overs

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bowling in the death overs is one of the most difficult jobs for any bowler in an ODI match. The Indian team is lucky to have one of the best death overs bowling combinations around, in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bumrah is arguably the best death overs specialist in the world. His lethal yorkers and slower balls make him one of the toughest bowlers to score against.

Bhuvneshwar also has a very good yorker, along with a variety of slower deliveries. Although he has not been as consistent as Bumrah in recent times, the Indian team management will be hoping that he rediscovers his best form at the mega event.

If this famous death bowling pair performs according to its potential, then India will definitely be a tough team to score against.