Pakistan vs India: Bowling stats, strengths and weaknesses

The arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to face each other again on 23rd October 2022, in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match at MCG. The much-anticipated Indo-Pak encounter is probably the biggest rivalry on the cricketing field, and therefore, is always discussed at length.

In this article, we’ll discuss the weaknesses and strengths of the bowling attacks of both teams.

Pakistan’s pace attack looks promising and scary. Shaheen Afridi, who returned from a knee injury, looked well in shape during the two practice matches and will spearhead Pakistan’s bowling attack on Sunday. He would be backed by Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, with anyone from Muhammad Hasnain, Muhammad Wasim Jr. The spin department has the likes of Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Pacers

1. Haris Rauf

Right-arm fast Haris Rauf tops the chart in terms of wickets and bowling averages. With two years of BBL experience on his back, Rauf is also the most experienced fast bowler on Australian soil for Pakistan.

Haris has so far taken 64 wickets in 50 T20Is for Pakistan at an average of 23.03. Haris has an impressive bowling strike rate of 16.07 and an economy of 8.25. His best bowling figure of 4/22 came against New Zealand in the 2021 T20 World Cup match in Dubai last year.

Stats in different phases

Let’s have a look at Haris Rauf’s stats during the 3 different phases of the game.

Powerplay: Of 64 wickets, 14 have come during powerplays at an economy of 8.56 in the 40 innings.

Middle-overs

Haris has bowled 15 overs (in 37 innings) in the middle phase of the game and took 9 wickets with an economy of 8.22.

Death overs

Bowling in death overs is an art and Haris Rauf is the Picasso of it. Data shows Haris is most lethal in death overs. He has mastered the art of bowling slow bouncers and well-disguised slower ones. In 44 innings he got to bowl in this phase of the game, Haris has picked 37 wickets at an incredible economy rate of 8.00.

2. Shaheen Afridi

The left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi played 40 T20I matches for Pakistan in which he took 47 wickets at a bowling average of 24.31 with a strike rate of 18.8 while his economy rate is 7.75. His best figures are 3/20 against New Zealand but 3/31 against India in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup remains his most iconic spell.

Stats in different phases

Powerplays

Shaheen is currently the most furious bowler in the powerplays. His ability to take wickets with the new ball makes him special. In 36 innings, Shaheen has taken 16 wickets during powerplays and also has a handsome economy of 6.63.

Middle-overs

7 of his wickets came during the middle overs phase and his economy during this phase is 8.42.

Death overs

Shaheen has most of his wickets in the death overs. He has a tally of 24 wickets with an economy of 8.92.

3. Mohammad Wasim jr.

The youngster Mohammad Wasim Jr. represented Pakistan in 20 T20 internationals in which he took 26 wickets at a bowling average of 21.34 and a strike rate of just 15. Wasim’s economy is 8.51 while 4/40 is his best bowling figure.

4. Mohammad Hasnain

Mohammad Hasnain played 27 T20Is for Pakistan in 26 innings of which he took 25 wickets at a 34.12 bowling average and at a strike rate of 24.2. Hasnain’s economy rate is 8.44 while 3/44 is his best bowling figure.

5. Naseem Shah

Naseem shah just made a T20 debut in the Asia cup against India and surprised everyone with his spell of 2/27. He has played 9 T20Is for Pakistan in which he took 11 wickets at an average of 23.81 and a strike rate of just 18. Naseem’s economy rate is 7.89 runs per over while 2/7 is his best bowling figure.

Spinners

1. Shadab Khan

Right-arm legs-pinner, Shadab Khan, the 2nd highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I history, is the most experienced bowler in the lineup.

In 77 T20Is, Shadab has made 87 scalps and enjoys an average of 22.29 and a strike rate of 18.8. His best bowling figure of 4/8 came against Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2022.

Shadab has an impressive bowling economy of 7.1 and his ability to take wickets and stop the flow of runs in the middle makes him dangerous.

2. Muhammad Nawaz

The left-arm spinner, Muhammad Nawaz has played 48 T20I matches for Pakistan and took 44 wickets at a bowling average of 26.44. Nawaz has a bowling strike rate of 21.5 and an economy rate of 7.38. His best bowling figure of 3/5 also came against Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2022.

Players	Matches	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Figures	Average	Economy	Strike Rate	5-fors
Shadab Khan	77	273.1	1940	87	4/8	22.29	7.1	18.8	0
Haris Rauf	50	178.4	1474	64	4/22	23.03	8.25	16.7	0
Shaheen Shah Afridi	40	147.2	1143	47	3/20	24.31	7.75	18.8	0
Mohammad Nawaz	48	157.4	1164	44	3/5	26.45	7.38	21.5	0
Mohammad Wasim	20	65.1	555	26	4/40	21.34	8.51	15	0
Mohammad Hasnain	27	101	853	25	3/37	34.12	8.44	24.2	0
Naseem Shah	9	33.1	262	11	2/7	23.81	7.89	18	0
Iftikhar Ahmed	36	31.2	222	3	1/7	74	7.08	62.6	0

Indian bowling lineup

Indian bowlers in the 15-member squad are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin

Pacers

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most experienced bowler in the Indian lineup. With 79 matches to his name (the most by any Indian bowler in T20Is), Bhuvi is also the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is. So farm Bhuvneshwar has taken 85 wickets in 78 innings at a bowling average of 22.55, a strike rate of 19.2, and a decent economy of 7.02. Bhuvi’s best bowling figure of 5/2 came against Afghanistan during the Asia Cup 2022.

Stats in different phases

Let’s have a look at Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s stats during the three different phases of the game.

Powerplays

Bhuvi is the best new ball bowler on the Indian side. In 76 innings, he took 44 wickets during the powerplays in T20Is with an exceptional economy rate of just 5.73. His skill to swing the ball on both sides makes him dangerous during the powerplay overs.

Middle-overs

In 31 innings, Bhuvi took 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.90 during the middle phase of the game.

Death overs

Bhuvneshwar took 31 wickets in death overs, but his economy rate climbed to 9.65 which is higher than in the first two phases of the game.

2. Mohammad Shami

Mohammad Shami is a skilled Test bowler, but played only 17 T20Is for India and has 18 wickets at an average of 31.55 with a strike rate of 19.8. His economy rate is 9.54.

Stats in different phases

Let’s have a look at Mohammad Shami’s stats during the 3 different phases of the game.

 Powerplays

Mohammad Shami has just 5 wickets in the 16 innings he bowled during the powerplays in the T20Is. His economy during this phase is 8.44.

Middle-overs

Mohammad Shami bowled in 11 innings during the middle phase and took 2 wickets while his economy rate during this phase is 11.07.

Death overs

Mohammad Shami is good at death overs as compared to the middle and initial overs of the game. He took 11 wickets in 15 innings at an economy of 10.22 during this phase.

3. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is the 2nd most experienced pacer on the Indian side. Having represented India in 73 T20Is, Hardik only got to bowl in 64 innings. He took 54 wickets at an average of 28.68 and a strike rate of 20.6. His economy in T20Is is 8.33. However, Hardik can come in handy in Australian conditions as he bowls bouncers with precision.

4. Shardul Thakur

The right-arm medium bowler, Shardul Thakur represented India in 25 T20 internationals. In 24 innings, Shardul took 33 wickets at a bowling average of 23.39 and a strike rate of 15.3. He has an economy of 9.15 while 4/27 is his best bowling figure in T20Is. His ability to swing the ball away from right-handers makes him special early in the innings.

5. Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm medium pacer, Arshdeep Singh, has represented India in 13 T20Is, taking19 wickets at an average of 19.78 and with a bowling strike rate of 14.5. His best bowling figures are 3/12 while 8.14 runs per over is his economy rate in T20Is.

Spinners

1. Yuzvendra Chahal

The Right-arm legspinner, Yuzvendra Chahal is the most experienced Indian spinner and the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is. He has played 69 T20Is for India and took 85 wickets in 68 innings at an average of 24.64 and with a bowling strike rate of 18.2. Chahal’s economy rate is 8.12. His best bowling figure of 6/25 came against England. He is a wicket-taking option for his team and is known for breaking crucial partnerships.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is the 2nd most experienced spinner in the Indian side, having played 59 T20Is.

Ashwin has 66 wickets to his credit in the shortest format, which came at an average of 22.98 and a strike rate of 20.2. Ashwin’s best bowling figures are 4/8 while his economy is 6.8 runs per over.

3. Axar Patel

The left-arm spinner Axar Patel is the 3rd most experienced spinner on the Indian side. He has played 32 matches for Indian and took 31 wickets in 31 innings at an average of 23.87 and with a strike rate of 19.5. His best bowling figures in T20Is are 3/9 while his economy rate is 7.33. His ability to bat down the order and provide an extra batting option makes him special.

4. Ravi Bishnoi

The right-arm quick legs-pinner, Ravi Bishnoi is the least experienced spinner on the Indian side. He just played 10 T20Is for India and took 16 wickets at an average of 17.12 with a bowling strike rate of 14.5. Ravi Bishnoi has the best bowling figures of 4/16 while his economy rate is 7.08 runs per over. His ability to bowl quick googlies makes him dangerous for opponents.

Verdict

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace attack does not look as lethal as that of Pakistan’s. However, their spin department is experienced and can turn the game on any given day. As for Pakistan, they have an intimidating pace attack and can wreak havoc on any opposition on Australian pitches. In the end, the team does well on match day has the last laugh.

Players	Matches	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Figures	Average	Economy	Strike Rate	5-fors
B Kumar	79	272.5	1917	85	5/4	22.55	7.02	19.2	2
YS Chahal	69	258	2095	85	6/25	24.64	8.12	18.2	1
R Ashwin	59	223	1517	66	4/8	22.98	6.8	20.2	0
HH Pandya	73	185.5	1549	54	4/33	28.68	8.33	20.6	0
SN Thakur	25	84.2	772	33	4/27	23.39	9.15	15.3	0
AR Patel	32	100.5	740	31	3/9	23.87	7.33	19.5	0
Arshdeep Singh	13	46.1	376	19	3/12	19.78	8.14	14.5	0
Mohammed Shami	17	59.3	568	18	3/15	31.55	9.54	19.8	0
Ravi Bishnoi	10	38.4	274	16	4/16	17.12	7.08	14.5	0