Paras Mhambrey on the varying excellence of India bowling stocks

A big contributing factor to India's successful Cricket World Cup run so far has been the performance of their bowling setup. Jasprit Bumrah (17 wickets at an average of 15.64), Mohammed Siraj (12 wickets at 28.83), Mohammed Shami (16 wickets at 9.56), Ravindra Jadeja (16 wickets at 18.25), and Kuldeep Yadav (14 wickets at 22.28) have all excelled across conditions.

This makes them a complete package in the eyes of their bowling coach Mhambrey.

Speaking to ICC, he expressed his thoughts on his side doing well across the different conditions that were on offer during this World Cup.

"In terms of the different skills, we have the ability to [take on] whatever challenge that is ahead of us," Mhambrey said. "Maybe different surfaces, we have the bowlers to do that. And we’ve done it. We’re the only team who are going to play in nine different venues. So for us, it's nine different surfaces, nine different challenges."

"So we have the right bowlers to exploit these conditions, and they’ve shown that. All of them on a given day can win a game for their country."

He went on to discuss the unique skill set that each bowler brought to the setup. Beginning with Bumrah, he was all in praise about the pacer's special action and acquisition of new deliveries.

"Boom is a very different action. Just look at the way he’s come back to the game [from his injury]. The set of skills, the unique action. He completely beats you. Now he’s got both, he gets the ball in and gets the ball out. He’s become lethal."

For Shami, Mhambrey recounted how his exceptional seam position stood out,

"Shami is someone who has the seam [which hits] straight upright. You never know when Shami hits that seam, which way it's going to come. Is it going to come in?

"And he raises those questions again. You know, the batsman is always guessing. And the ability to hit that seam is spot on. I’ve never seen, very few, I think Sreesanth was one of the bowlers at the international level, that I’d seen with the accuracy and ability to hit that seam. Shami is that. So that kind of confusion, plus the pace."

On Siraj, Mhambrey was impressed with the inculcation of new skills into his bowling armoury.

"Siraj has really kind of grown last couple of years. He’s understood his bowling, obviously coming through the ranks. He’s started using different set of skills, the wobble seam.

"Initially, he had the ball coming into the batsman, right-handers but now he shapes the ball away. He has the ability and smartness to use the wobble seam and that also worked."

Mhambrey was also all praise for all three India spinners. Discussing Jadeja, he emphasised the bowler's pinpoint accuracy which had benefitted him over the years.

"He’s not only been doing this right now, he’s been really unsung, he’s gone under the carpet, under the radar. The number of contributions he’s made to the Indian team, for the last many years.

"His ability is very simple. Ability to hit the deck, and hit the lengths spot on. Very accurate. Very miserly in terms of the way he goes about his bowling. Doesn’t give anything away to the batsman. Keeps it very simple and that’s the best part about Jaddu [Jadeja]. He knows his role, he knows what the team expects out of him. Just keeps it very simple, just keeps it out there. Just tightens up. You want someone to tighten up things, squeeze the runs. Jaddu is there."

Kuldeep has made a solid comeback to the India side over the last couple of years and has become an integral part of the setup. The bowler looks up in confidence and has also brought slight changes to his game.

" Love how Kuldeep has gone about over the last couple of years. He’s done little-bit of technical adjustment to his runup, which has really helped him to add those revs. His spin has gone up, speed has gone up. And someone like a Chinaman bowler, who does that doesn’t allow you to step out so easily. So Kuldeep has really progressed in the last couple of years."

Ravichandran Ashwin featured in only one game for India so far, unleashing an economical 1/34 on a turning track in Chennai. But as per Mhambrey, the spinner has been a source of inspiration for the other bowlers.

"And Ash [Ashwin] is out and out a match-winner. I’ve said it earlier as well, one of the greatest match-winners this country has produced. Love the way he moves about, no airs about playing the game or not playing the game. Even when he’s sitting in the dugout when you have those chats with him. He’s always there to guide these guys and comes up with a lot of suggestions."

For Mhambrey, this was a complete setup.

" Every bowler is unique for me. Just happy the way things are."