1. Jasprit Bumrah (India) Matches: 49 Wickets: 85 BB: 5/29 Ave: 22.15 Eco: 4.61
Producing high-quality fast bowlers was always the domain of neighbours Pakistan, but India now boast a pace attack that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any team in the world. And their undisputed leader is Bumrah. If the 25-year-old does not suffer any major injuries, he will undoubtedly finish as India’s best fast bowler ever. He clocks speeds consistently above 145km/h, but is also armed with a devilish slower ball that flummoxes even the top batsmen in the world. Bumrah is a unique specimen due to his high-arm action at the point of release that makes his yorkers virtually impossible to keep out. Comfortable with the new ball or at the death, Bumrah has earned his No 1 ODI ranking ahead of some worthy competitors. is a ball that will be spoken about for years. It was no surprise that Delhi’s run came to a screeching halt when Rabada returned to SA with a back ailment. Yes, even Iron Man’s armour gets ruptured sometimes. And that is SA’s biggest fear. Rabada has been going full tilt this entire season and everyone is holding their breath with regards to whether the 23-year-old’s body will stand up to the rigours of a high intensity six-week tournament. wickets earned him the Man-of-theTournament award. Unlike the other premier pacemen around the world, Starc has only played seven ODIs over the past two years – all on home soil – to keep his body in peak physical condition. He has also given the IPL a miss over the past couple of years. Only time will tell whether it was a gamble worth taking.