IND vs SL: 'Amar, Akbar and Akbar' - Why Indian pace unit of Bumrah, Shami and Siraj is best in the world

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IND vs SL: Are you a batter going through a horrendous form? Come and play at the highway-like pitches at the Wankhede Stadium and roar back to form. Shubman Gill did exactly the same and scored 92 runs after a string of low scores. Shreyas Iyer hit top gear straightaway and blasted 82 off 56. Don't forget that 106 metres maximum - the longest in the ongoing World Cup 2023.

Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka was impressive but the 23-year-old youngster leaked as many as 80 runs in 10 overs. The remaining bowlers were hammered left right and centre. 350-plus totals have been posted thrice in three matches at the Wankhede Stadium in World Cup 2023.

But on a day when Virat Kohli scored 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year for a record eighth time in his career and three India batters scored over 80 runs to help India post 357/8, India bowlers managed to steal the limelight by bundling out Sri Lanka for 55 in just 19.4 overs!

And NO! We are not talking about Colombo's Asia Cup 2023 final. India had wrapped up Sri Lanka innings for 50 in 15.2 overs on that occasion. Sri Lanka lasted five runs and 26 balls more here in Mumbai.

IND vs SL: Bumrah, Shami and Siraj prove India have best pace attack in World Cup 2023

The total is lowest in the ongoing tournament, and lowest ever by a Full member nation in World Cups. The Indian pace unit inflicting such level of damage twice within the span of less than two months in subcontinent conditions is mind-boggling.

There used to be a time when India pacers would find it difficult to get the ball from the spinners. The Indian spinners bowled just 16 balls in match 33 of the World Cup 2023.

The silver lining of Hardik Pandya's injury has been the introduction of rampaging Mohammed Shami in playing eleven which has initiated a visual treat for fans. The three-pronged pace attack has run riot since the last three matches they have been together.

The unit picked seven wickets each in Dharamsala against New Zealand and in Lucknow against England. India defended 230 in Lucknow by bundling England for 129. In Mumbai, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj joined forces to pick nine wickets.

A 302 runs for India to become the first team to qualify for the World Cup 2023 semi-finals. The India pacers have stolen the limelight in the last two games. Even teams like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand who boast of world-class pace attack have conceded over 300 runs at least once in the World Cup 2023. India bowlers have been mighty impressive, restricting teams under 300 in each of their seven attempts now.

The amalgamation of Bumrah, Shami and Siraj is a unique phenomena in Indian cricket. Shami does the magic with the seam position, Siraj has mastered the art of swinging the white cherry in and out, Bumrah is a magician - surface, seam, swing, the stage of the game, opponents - nothing really matters to him. He will create pressure 9.99 times out of 10.

Bumrah, who has an average of 18.70 and an economy rate of 2.87 in the Powerplay of World Cups, struck on the first ball of the first over. Siraj picked two wickets in the second over (his first). He picked a third one in his second over (Sri Lanka's 4th). Bumrah and Siraj put Sri Lanka in a pressure cooker situation for nine overs before Shami came in and blew the whistle on them with two wickets in the 10th over.

Shami soon became only the second bowler after Mitchell starc to pick three five-fers in World Cups. He also went past Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath's tally of 44 World Cup wickets each for India. Srinath took 34 innings and Zaheer 23 to pick those wickets, Shami surpassed their tally in just his 14th World Cup innings.

If Sachin Will not score Sourav Ganguly will score, if Ganguly would not score VVS Laxman would score, if Laxman would not score Virender Sehwag will score, if anyone will not score Rahul Dravid would score. It's a saying from the past. If Bumrah would not strike Shami would, and if Shami won't then Siraj will - One of 'Amar, Akbar and Akbar' will strike. This one is the latest.