11.46 RPO, 13 wides, 18 extras: India’s pace attack under pressure ahead of New Zealand tour

India’s Arshdeep Singh celebrates with teammates (PTI Photo) Bengaluru: When batsmen are scoring at 11.46 runs an over, even quality bowling attacks can look ordinary. India’s T20I series against the West Indies exposed the vulnerability of the hosts’ pace unit, with flat pitches, dew and short boundaries a punishing combination for the bowlers.West Indies’ stunning 250-run chase in Ranchi, completed with nine balls to spare, drew a stern assessment from India head coach Gautam Gambhir.“These pitchers are our pitchers, not somebody else’s pitchers. Their careers are at stake,” he said, stressing the offense he faces.With the exception of Indore, where India successfully defended 223, the bowlers struggled to contain West Indies’ fearless batting line-up. While the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and to some extent Hardik Pandya has been felt, the bigger worry for the team management is the inconsistency shown by Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.The two young quicks, Mayank and Prince, alternated between brilliance and stubbornness throughout the series, highlighting the challenges of adapting to different match situations. The fourth T20I in Hyderabad offered a clear example. India conceded 18 overs, including 13 wides. Arshdeep accounted for six while Mayank and Prince conceded two and one respectively. Their attempts at wide yorkers and fuller deliveries repeatedly missed the mark, allowing the West Indies batsmen to keep the pressure on.India’s lack of proven T20 bowling depth subsequently became a talking point. This has refocused attention on the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose recall after almost four years away from the national side could prove to be opportune.The veteran swing bowler has enjoyed a productive run in the IPL, picking up 45 wickets in the last two seasons. More importantly, his success has been built on control and execution rather than mere pace, qualities that the younger Indian players have often lacked in this series.However, the conditions offered little relief to the bowlers. High-scoring surfaces and heavy dew meant that even small outages were costly.As India prepare for a tough tour of New Zealand, they know the challenges ahead will be very different. The pitch can offer more help, but the key question remains whether the bowling group can adapt quickly and improve their consistency.On the eve of the rain-hit series finale in Bengaluru, fast bowling coach Morne Morkel urged observers to consider the physical and mental demands placed on modern cricketers.“Sometimes we forget that mental fatigue plays a big role. We have to manage it and be smart about it. Some players have gone to the Asian Games and then straight into a full series against the West Indies. These guys are human too,” Morkel said.“Performance and skills improve when you recover, sleep well and are mentally fresh. That’s the challenge. We’re going to New Zealand now and there’s a busy schedule there as well,” he added.There was one encouraging sign, however. All-rounder Naman Dhir grabbed his opportunity after replacing Washington Sundar in the eleven.