Faf du Plessis, the out-of-favour South Africa batter, has listed four bowlers to watch out for during the Cricket World Cup 2023. Surprisingly, India’s Jasprit Bumrah did not make the cut on the list, despite du Plessis naming two Indian bowlers. The chosen bowlers are Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav from India, Kagiso Rabada from South Africa, and Trent Boult from New Zealand. Du Plessis emphasized that the performance of these bowlers will depend on the conditions of the pitches they play on.
Du Plessis explained his choices, saying, “I think it depends on the wickets. If the wicket has something for the bowlers, someone like Siraj, who can swing the ball both ways and maintain a good line outside off stump, will be successful. Boult, Rabada, and similar bowlers will also thrive in such conditions. However, if there’s some spin on offer, Kuldeep Yadav has shown great form in the last six months. He can trouble batsmen with his variations and ability to spin the ball both ways.”
Both Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj have been in exceptional form for India, with Siraj particularly standing out. In a recent Asia Cup 2023 final match against Sri Lanka, Siraj claimed a remarkable six-wicket haul, which is also his best ODI performance. His figures of 6 for 21 equalled Chaminda Vaas’ record of taking five wickets in 16 balls in ODI cricket.
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist spinner, has made some improvements in his bowling technique, which have enhanced his ability to take wickets. He has become crucial in providing breakthroughs for India during the middle-overs.
It is worth noting that Jasprit Bumrah, who is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world, did not find a place on du Plessis’ list. Nonetheless, the South African star’s choices underline the talent and potential of the selected bowlers.