Mumbai, Nov 3: — Former England captain Michael Atherton commended India’s bowling attack as the best he has seen in Indian colors after seven consecutive victories at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
India secured their spot in the semi-finals, becoming the first team to do so, with a commanding 302-run win over Sri Lanka. The pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, wreaked havoc early in the innings, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 4/3.
“They’ve looked the best team by a country mile,” remarked Atherton on The ICC Review podcast. He specifically praised India’s seamers for making early inroads and setting the stage for the spinners.
Mohammed Shami, who replaced the injured Hardik Pandya, played a crucial role, taking 5/18 and becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 45 wickets. Shami now holds the record for the most hauls of four wickets or more at Cricket World Cups.
“I’m not sure I’ve seen a better pace attack than the one India is putting out right now,” said Atherton. He compared the current trio of Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami to the likes of Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, and Zaheer Khan from the past.
India’s unbeaten run in the tournament has set them on course for a top-of-the-table clash with South Africa, who also have six wins from seven matches. The contest between India’s formidable bowling attack and South Africa’s powerful batting lineup promises to be a thrilling encounter and a potential preview of the knockout stages.
“It’s going to be a taster of what may be to come in the knockout stages. Whether the players can hold their nerve, whether South Africa can still bat as aggressively and as well against India’s pace attack, that remains to be seen. It’ll be a good pointer to what’s to come,” concluded Atherton.
