It seems gone are the days when J&K was known for its bowling and batting was never its strength. The current T20 campaign of J&K cricket team in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy tournament at Andhra Pradesh.
So far J&K has played three matches in the event and in all the matches the batting has shined with J&K posting its highest ever T20 total. Against Nagaland J&K registered wicket win while as against Jharkhand J&K scored 169 run total followed by 189 run total against Delhi.
J&K won its first match while as lost both next two matches despite posting big totals on board. After having posted such big totals one was hoping that J&K bowlers will easily defend the target. However that was not the case with J&K suffering two defeats. While against Jharkhand J&K bowlers were hammered by Ishan Kishan against Delhi it was lack quality depth in bowling.
On Sunday all the J&K bowlers except Parvez Rasool went for plenty of runs. New rookie pacer Rasikh Salam was hammered in both the matches he has played while as Irfan Pathan is the one on whom you can depend in death over’s. The lack of pace and swing in Irfan Pathan’s bowling is always going to be cat walk for the opposite batsman. Same was the case on Sunday when Pathan was blasted out for 17 runs in 19th over of the inning.
Once there was time when J&K was able to defend even 120 run total in 20 overs and now they are unable to defend 189 run totals.
The performance of J&K bowlers in the event so far has once again raised questions on the exclusion of the senior pro Mohammad Mudhasir in the squad. He was experienced seamer who all the things needed in shorter format. The current seam department look inexperienced while as Umar Nazir has not been able to produce results on consistent basis. One thing that skipper would be vouched on Mudhasir was the economy and bowling at death. With no one to go for, J&K skipper was forced to use Manzoor Pandav in final over on Sunday which miserably failed and J&K lost match.
Another young pacer Mujtaba Yusuf has been decent in all the matches he has played so far but one cant expect magical results from rookie in his first senior outing. Parvez Rasool himself has failed to pick wicket, though he has been economical. Team expect better outcome from him.
Bringing in youth in the team is good thing but J&K shouldn’t not go the way it will lose its strength which was always its pace bowling and quality to defend low totals.
It is time to think on it and bring back the old flame that J&K is lacking currently.