How teams have bowled phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)

Analysing phase-wise bowling in T20Is after the 2024 World Cup — which teams dominate key phases and why?

Although a T20 game is dominated by batters, bowlers too have their share of fun during the different phases of the match. Each section of a T20 match needs specialist bowlers who are experts in bowling during those particular periods. Hence, for a bowling side, winning the three different phases of a T20 game is crucial in winning the match.

Here’s a look at how the Test-playing nations fared in bowling in different phases of a T20I game to determine which is the best team overall since the 2024 World T20.

Powerplay
For a bowling side, it is extremely challenging to stop the opposition’s batting unit from racing to a quick start in the powerplay as only two fielders are positioned in the deep. Nevertheless, it also gives the chance to the bowling side to induce false strokes from batters who are under pressure to score quickly.

Read More: How teams have batted phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)

Here’s how each Test-playing nation fares in the powerplay since the 2024 World T20.

Australia take least balls to strike in powerplay
Australia take just 16.76 balls – the least number of balls by any Test-playing teams to take a wicket in the powerplay. Pakistan is second-best with a strike rate of 18.44. South Africa have the worst strike rate, taking 24.71 balls to pick up a wicket in powerplay. 

However, if a criteria of a team picking up most number of wickets in the powerplay since 2024 World T20 is taken into consideration, Pakistan win this battle of bowling supremacy. It has taken 82 wickets in the powerplay – the most by any team since 2024 World T20.

The team that has conceded the least runs in powerplay since 2024 World T20 is New Zealand. It has conceded 7.45 runs per over in powerplay. The team that has conceded the least runs for a wicket in powerplay is New Zealand again with an average of 23.17. It implies that New Zealand’s bowlers in the powerplay have done their job brilliantly in terms of line and length to not only restrict the flow of runs, but also concedes the least number of runs for a wicket.

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Who is the biggest contributor in this phase?
Jacob Duffy of New Zealand and Richard Ngarava of Zimbabwe top the chart with 20 wickets apiece. But Duffy noses ahead of Ngarava as the former has takes 7 balls less than the latter to pick up a wicket in powerplay. He also has a better bowling average, and almost similar economy rate. However, it is Arshdeep Singh of India who takes the least balls (13.33) to pick up a wicket in powerplay.

*Criteria: Over 0-6 (Minimum 15 wickets)

Middle-overs
The middle-overs in a T20 game can make or break a match. The batting side is under pressure to rotate the strike and continue the momentum from the powerplay. The challenge for the bowling unit in the middle-overs is to dent the opposition’s momentum by picking up regular wickets and swing the game in their favour.

Here’s how each Test-playing nation fares in the middle-overs since 2024 World T20.

India top the list as it takes the least balls (13.85) to pick up a wicket in the middle-overs. It also has taken the second-most number of wickets (128) during this phase after Pakistan (139). It averages the lowest (17.16) during this phase, meaning it gives away the least runs for a wicket in the middle-overs. It also has conceded less than 7.5 runs per over, with only three teams doing better than India. It implies India are the dominant team in the middle-overs as it boasts of a few world-class spinners in Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav. 

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Who is the biggest contributor in this phase?
The current world’s No 1 T20I bowler dominates this list. Varun has struck every 10 balls, has taken the most number of wickets (37) during this phase, and conceded the lowest runs per wicket (12.59).

*Criteria: Over 7-15 (Minimum 25 wickets)

Death overs
Overs 16 to 20 is where winning or losing is determined. It is when the batting unit goes into top gear to add a few extra runs to the total or wrap up a chase quickly. The bowling unit has to bowl accurately in this phase to stop the opposition from running away with the game with the bat.

Here’s how each Test-playing nation fares in the death-overs since 2024 World T20.

Australia boast of the best strike rate of just 7.70 during death overs, meaning it is taking just 7.70 balls to pick up a wicket, followed by India (8.45) and New Zealand (9.37). What stood out for Australia in this phase was their economy rate, which is the lowest (7.96) among all Test-playing nations. It also averages the lowest (10.21) during this phase, meaning conceding the lowest runs per wicket during the death overs. India are close second in the list, and has taken the most number of wickets (98) by any team in this phase.

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Who is the biggest contributor in this phase?
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan is the best bowler during this phase. His strike rate, average and economy are all under 6, while picking up 16 wickets in this phase. It implies his leg-breaks and googlies are difficult to score off in the death overs, and batters lose their wickets to him, in the pursuit of big hits.

*Criteria: Over 16-20 (Minimum 15 wickets)

Overall Verdict
Australia dominate the powerplay and death overs, but India rule in the middle-overs. Australia boast of some quality pacers who make good use of new and old balls in powerplay and death overs. But it is India who boss in the middle-overs as their spinners choke the flow of runs from overs 7 to 15. Hence, Australia and India have been the best bowling unit since the 2024 World T20.

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