Anil Kumble Raises Concerns Over India's Bowling Depth in T20 World Cup

Kumble's Insights on Bowling Options

Renowned Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has expressed his worries regarding Suryakumar Yadav's limited bowling choices, especially when the main bowlers are underperforming. All-rounder Hardik Pandya and spinner Varun Chakaravarthy have not made significant contributions in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. While they have struggled, players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Shivam Dube have occasionally stepped up to bowl. In a crucial Super 8 match against Zimbabwe, Dube bowled two overs, conceding 46 runs. It's uncertain how the game would have unfolded had India not set a formidable total of 256/4. Kumble noted, "They certainly did all the right things to get the batters to bowl a bit through the previous World Cup to now. If you look at the last 18 months, where India played T20 cricket, where they've won every single game, that Tilak Varma got to bowl, Abhishek Sharma got to bowl, Dube got to bowl. Then even Rinku Singh bowled, even Suryakumar Yadav bowled." He further added, "So in that sense, you have options, and that's great. But on a flat pitch, there will be challenges. India would ideally want the comfort of playing eight batters, rather than going in with seven batters and five specialist bowlers."

Faf du Plessis Supports Kumble's Viewpoint

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis echoed Kumble's concerns, highlighting that Suryakumar's team could face difficulties if key Indian bowlers are targeted and a sixth bowler is required during the match. He stated, "100%. You look at it and ask: who are the danger bowlers? Most of the time, it's Bumrah. On the day, you make that call - if you can get on top of someone else early, then the sixth bowling option is going to have to come in. If that happens, and he [Dube] is bowling wide yorkers or defensive lines, you can line him up." Rival teams have generally found it challenging to face Jasprit Bumrah, the only Indian bowler in the current tournament who has consistently performed well. The situation is different for the other bowlers. On March 1, India is set to face the West Indies in what is essentially a knockout match in Kolkata. The winner, along with South Africa from Group 1, will advance to the semifinals.