“India Are Going Weaker On…”: Former World Cup-Winner Blasts T20 Team Selection

India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2024 squad is out, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) going with ‘tried and tested options’ rather than doing a major overhaul. In the bowling unit, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh made the cut while Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan were roped in as reserves. As reactions to India’s squad selection continue to pour in, Madan Lal, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, isn’t convinced.

“I don’t like the pace attack. Other than Jasprit Bumrah, it’s not that good. Siraj has done well (here and there), but his performances at the international level have been patchy. I think India are going weaker on the pacer side,” Lal said in a chat with the Times of India.

Lal feels that the Indian team is over-reliant on Jasprit Bumrah to deliver, with the likes of Siraj and Arshdeep not displaying much form in the ongoing IPL 2024.

“Not only in T20 cricket, you need a good pacer who can get you the wickets to win matches. Bumrah is a wicket-taker and a match-winner. Let’s see how Siraj performs. Otherwise, India will rely on Bumrah a lot. The problem is that India should’ve got another pacer.

“If you look at the history, India performed well only when they had a good pace attack. Only then, they won a lot of matches. But I am not sure about Arshdeep, nor am I sure about Siraj. Pandya is not that effective either. I think the team management has taken a chance on him. The pace line-up is the weak link. Apart from Bumrah, we have to see how Siraj and Arshdeep bowl,” the 73-year-old further said. “Looking at the bowling side, I am not getting that much confidence.”

When asked about his choice of seamers, the former World Cup-winner said that Sunrisers Hyderabad star T Natarajan would’ve been his pick among the 15.

“If I had a chance (to pick one), I would’ve picked Natarajan. I would have vouched for him because he is a good bowler at the death. Mayank Yadav is too young. Yes, he bowls at a good pace, but the thing is whether he could keep doing it or not. But Natarajan has been doing it in every game,” he said.