India’s 3-0 ODI series win against Ireland showcased dominant batting but exposed glaring concerns in the pace bowling department. Despite playing against an inexperienced Irish team on flat tracks, India’s pacers struggled to make an impact.
While the spinners consistently delivered wickets and maintained tighter control, the pacers failed to bowl consistent lines and lengths, often leaking extras and momentum. Let’s break it down further.
Series Overview: The Numbers Game
1st ODI:
- Pacers: 2/121 (29 overs) | Extras: 15 (all by pacers)
- Spinners: 3/111 (21 overs) | Deepti Sharma dismissed Gaby Lewis, Ireland’s top scorer with 92.
2nd ODI:
- Pacers: 2/138 (28 overs) | Extras: 21 (pacers: 16, spinners: 5)
- Spinners: 5/129 (32 overs) | Deepti and Priya bagged five wickets, as Ireland made 254/7, their second-highest ODI total ever.
3rd ODI:
- Pacers: 2/46 (8 overs) | Extras: 18 (pacers: 15, spinners: 3)
- Spinners: 6/80 (23.4 overs) | Deepti, Tanuja, and Minnu Mani dominated.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
Key Patterns
- Extras Galore: Pacers conceded 46 out of the total 54 extras in the series, highlighting erratic lines and lengths.
- Lack of Wickets: Pacers managed only six wickets across three games, averaging a wicket every 14.5 overs. Spinners, on the other hand, scalped 14 wickets, taking a wicket every 6.8 overs.
- Key Moments: Spinners consistently broke partnerships. In the 1st ODI, a crucial run-out broke the 117-run stand, and spinners capitalised thereafter.
Pacers vs Spinners: A Tale of Two Departments
Pacers:
- Inconsistent Lines and Lengths: Titas Sadhu, Sayali Satghare, and Saima Thakor struggled to maintain pressure, often drifting down leg or bowling too wide.
- Lack of Variations: On flat tracks like Rajkot, slower deliveries and cutters could’ve been more effective, but pacers failed to use them effectively and were becoming predictable.
- No Strike Bowler: Without Renuka Singh and in-form Arundhati Reddy, the attack lacked a leader capable of setting the tone early.
Spinners:
- Control and Impact: Deepti led the charge with accurate, wicket-to-wicket bowling, backed by Priya Mishra. In the 3rd ODI, they were joined by Tanuja Kanwer.
- Game Awareness: Spinners varied their pace effectively. For example, Deepti’s fastest ball was around 107 kmph, her average speed was around 76-78 kmph and her slowest delivery was around 68 kmph. They also bowled tighter lines, forcing the Irish batters into errors.
Bigger Picture: World Cup Preparations
India’s pace bowling woes are a cause for concern ahead of the 2025 ODI World Cup. The absence of Renuka Singh and the puzzling exclusion of Arundhati Reddy exposed a lack of depth. Pooja Vastrakar’s injury adds another layer of uncertainty.
Who Could Make the Cut?
- Renuka Singh: India’s most reliable pacer; her return will be crucial.
- Pooja Vastrakar: If fit, her ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes her invaluable.
- Arundhati Reddy: Her omission raises questions, especially given her experience and form.
- Titas Sadhu: Promising but needs to learn quickly and improve consistency.
- Sayali Satghare and Saima Thakor: Need to adapt better to international standards.
Can India Fix Their Pace Attack?
While India’s batting and spin departments look solid, the pace attack remains a work in progress. With Renuka’s return and hopes pinned on Vastrakar’s fitness, India will need a strong pace unit to challenge top teams in the World Cup. For now, the search for a wicket-taking pacer continues.
Also Read: Pratika and Smriti shine in record-breaking win for India Women
The post India’s Pace Bowling Conundrum: Wickets Missing, as Questions Loom Ahead of ODI World Cup appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.
