Lack of express pace could be India’s Achilles heel

If you watched the Zimbabwe vs West Indies T20 WC Group 1 encounter earlier in the week and saw how West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph pinned the Zimbabweans with hard lengths or searing toe-crushers, you would guess that quality pace is the currency to keep in the T20 World Cup.

- Nitin Naik

You look across the major teams in the event and you will find that each side is blessed with at least one bowler who can unleash speedy rockets at 140-plus.

India, since 2016, have possessed gold dust in the form of Jasprit Bumrah whose skill set and temperament allowed him to excel in the powerplay, middle-overs and death. But with him injured, India’s plans have gone awry. What’s worse, the guy who can compensate for speed in the form of movement, Deepak Chahar, is also out injured.

There is no one in the attack who can clock average speeds of 140-plus. Yes, Mohammed Shami showed he can challenge the speed gun in the one over he bowled in the warm-up game vs Australia, but can the pacer sustain it for four overs bowled at different stages of a game?