5 Best bowling figures for India in T20 World Cup

India is produced the best of batsmen in world cricket in all three formats of the game. Even in T20 cricket, the Men in Blue have constantly been privileged with some of the best performers with the bat. However,  the subcontinent nation has also had ample match winning performances by its bowlers who have bowled some of the finest spells. That being said, let us take a look at some of the best bowling spells in the T20 World Cup by India which has quite often made the highlight reel.

• S. Sreesanth versus Australia (2007)

It was the semi-final of the first ever ICC World T20 and India was facing an intimidating opponent in the form of Australia. Batting first India scored 188 for five after 20 overs. But the game wasn’t over as MS Dhoni and his men were up against a power packed batting lineup. It was the dynamic duo of Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden that walked in and put forward a positive start. But in came Sreesanth as he castled Adam Gilchrist with a peach of a delivery. Gilly was dismissed for 22 of just 13 balls. Australia soon got back into the groove and were looking to take the game away courtesy Mathew Hayden’s dominance. But then  Dhoni brought back Sreesanth for a wicket and he delivered yet again as he got the dangerous Hayden out bowled for 62 and gave a proper send off by banging his hands to the turf. Team India won the game and advanced to the finals, while it was Sreesanth’s fast bowling spell of 2 for 12 in four overs that played a big role.

• Ravichandran Ashwin versus South Africa (2014)

One of the biggest reasons why Ashwin’s spell of 3 for 22 in  four overs at the semi-final of the tournament makes the cut is due to his dismissal of Hashim Amla. The specialist South African batsman was in serious good form up the order. Ravi Ashwin was introduced early into the attack and off spinner got his reward. Ashwin came around the wicket for Amla and delivered the ball on the good length area at the leg stump which spun viciously away from the batsman and eventually crashed on to the off-stump. To this day Ashwin relishes that wicket and terms it as his most favourite dismissal of all time. Apart from Hashim Amla, Ravi Ashwin also got the big wickets of Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers.

•  RP Singh versus South Africa (2007)

The Indians were taking on South Africa who were hosts and also one of the favourites of ICC World T20 in 2007. Team India got to a respectable total of 153 and defending the target against a quality batting lineup was going to be quite a challenge.

However, left-arm pacer RP Singh was on fire that night as he ripped into the lineup. Singh got the early wickets of the opening duo of Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs who had the ability to take away the game in the first six overs.  He then returned in the second spell to dismiss Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel who were also known for their big hitting abilities. RP Singh scalped four wickets for just 13 runs in that four over spell and was a vital cog in the wheel in winning that match for India by 37 runs.

• Ravichandran Ashwin versus Australia (2014)

In their first game of the ICC World T20 2014, Team India were locking horns with Australia. Having scored a respectable total of 159 in 20 overs, most would have thought that the game could go right down the wire given how intense the clashes are between the two quality sides. But Ravichandran Ashwin had different intentions. The ace off-spinner got the prize wickets of Aaron Finch and David Warner earlier on in the second innings. He then got back and dismissed Glenn Maxwell just when he was getting settled, followed by James Muirhead’s wicket. Ashwin’s spell of 4 for 11 in 3.2 overs bamboozled the Aussies and got them dismissed for a meager total of just 86.

• Irfan Pathan versus Pakistan (2007)

The high-voltage final of the first ever T20 World Cup was held between rivals India and Pakistan. The Men in Blue posted a decent first inning total of 157 in 20 overs of play. Pakistan had lost a few early wickets but still had a solid middle that could take away the game in an instance. That’s when Irfan Pathan stepped in and bowled one of the best if not the best spells of his cricketing career. The left-arm pacer dismissed Shoaib Malik who was getting settled in for 24. But the big one was of Shahid Afridi as India and Pathan knew of the threat that the big hitter possesses.

Nevertheless, Irfan Pathan was smart enough to bowl a slower delivery right at the slot which Afridi targeted for a six but top edged it to Sreesanth at mid-off. Though Afridi and Malik were back in the hut, Pathan went on to get Yasir Arafat out bowled who was building a partnership with Misbah-ul-Haq.  In spite of the brilliant display by Pathan there was plenty of drama until the final over as it was finally Misbah who let the pressure get the better off him as India were crowned champions. For his vital spell of 3 for 16 in four overs, Irfan Pathan was adjourned as the player of the match in the finals.

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