Home
Suryakumar Yadav-led India faced a reality check in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal as England were on the verge of chasing down 253 runs, but pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah led from the front as the Men in Blue sealed their berth for the final after registering a seven-run win.
Luckily for India, different bowlers have stepped up at crucial moments throughout the tournament. A similar situation happened earlier against South Africa, where the bowlers played a major role after the batting struggled.
As India prepares to face New Zealand in the final, here are three bowlers who could play a key role at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Jasprit Bumrah
There are very few grounds in the world where Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t performed well. One of the reasons he is considered so special is that he delivers regardless of the conditions.
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, which is almost like a home ground for him, Bumrah has always made an impact. In three T20 internationals at this venue, he has taken six wickets with an impressive average of 8.16 and a very tight economy rate of 4.45.
During the IPL, he also recorded brilliant figures of 3/14 at this ground against the Gujarat Titans. Just like England, New Zealand will know that if they want to beat India, they will need to find a way to score runs in the overs not bowled by Bumrah.
Varun Chakaravarthy
Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has also enjoyed success at this venue. Among the current Indian squad members, he is the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is at this ground.
He has taken eight wickets in just three matches here, including a four-wicket haul against South Africa last year. While his economy rate of 10.36 might look a bit high, his bowling average of 14.25 shows that he often picks up important wickets.
ALSO READ: Glenn Phillips' stern warning to Team India ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 final goes viral
India will hope that he can use his past success at the stadium to regain confidence and make use of the big boundaries, especially after a few difficult matches recently.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya’s record at this venue is not just about wickets but also about experience. The Narendra Modi Stadium has multiple pitches, and it’s not always easy to predict how the surface will behave before the match.
Pandya has taken nine wickets in nine matches here, which is a solid record. Having also led the Gujarat Titans at this venue in the IPL, he understands the conditions well.
Because of his experience and familiarity with the ground, Pandya could play an important role for India, both with the ball and by guiding the other bowlers during key moments of the final.
ADVERTISEMENT
