Team India's next encounter is against the Netherlands on November 12, which will also mark the conclusion of the tournament's league stage.
Before the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, the spotlight was on the Pakistani bowling trio and the Australian pace attack. Surprisingly, there was little discussion about the Indian bowling unit, given India's reputation as a batting powerhouse. However, this tournament witnessed the Men in Blue defying expectations and wreaking havoc on their opponents.
While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had been consistent from the start, along with Hardik Pandya, an injury to the all-rounder paved the way for pacer Mohammed Shami, who left no stone unturned. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been constant with R Ashwin given one game to play.
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Their impressive journey began in India's opening match against Australia, where the Aussies were dismissed for a mere 199 runs in 49.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets, Bumrah and Kuldeep took two each, and Siraj, Hardik, and R Ashwin claimed one apiece.
Next, they faced Afghanistan and picked up eight wickets. Bumrah took four, Pandya claimed two, and Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep got one each.
In the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan, they bowled out their arch-rivals for 191 in 42.5 overs, with Bumrah, Siraj, Hardik, Kuldeep, and Jadeja each taking two wickets.
Against Bangladesh, the Indian bowlers secured eight wickets. Bumrah, Siraj, and Jadeja took two each, while Thakur and Kuldeep got one wicket each. It was in this game that fans saw Pandya sustain an injury, leading to Virat Kohli's cameo as a bowler.
In the match against New Zealand, India restricted the Kiwis to 273 all-out in 50 overs. Shami, making a comeback, took a five-wicket haul, while Kuldeep claimed two wickets and Bumrah and Siraj took one each.
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Against England, the Indian team bowled out the English batters for just 129 runs in 34.5 overs. Shami secured four wickets, Bumrah took three, and Kuldeep took two, with Jadeja claiming one.
The showdown with Sri Lanka showcased the destructive capabilities of the Indian bowlers. They bowled out the opposition for a mere 55 runs in 19.4 overs while chasing a target of 358. Shami shone with another five-wicket haul, Siraj claimed three wickets, and Jadeja and Bumrah contributed with one wicket each.
In their most recent match against South Africa, the Proteas were bundled out for 83 runs in 27.1 overs while chasing 327 runs. Jadeja was the star, taking a five-wicket haul, while Kuldeep and Shami claimed two wickets each, and Siraj got one wicket to his name.
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As the Indian bowlers systematically disassemble their opposition, fans are thoroughly relishing their performances, with some even labelling them as a "frightening" bowling unit.
India has already secured a spot in the semi-finals, and they remain determined to maintain their winning streak in all their remaining matches. Their next encounter is against the Netherlands on November 12, which will also mark the conclusion of the tournament's league stage.
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