As we head towards the end of another calendar year, for the cricket fans, this was one to remember with a flurry of impressive displays setting up the 22 yards ablaze. Whether it is with the bat or the ball, the players rocked the shores with one impressive display after the other.
With the year almost ticking away, here’s a quick look at the top bowling performances for the calendar year in ODIs that will come to an end in less than three weeks’ time. These are just the top five and of course may not be as good as the ones that you anticipate. If you have a few in mind, please feel free to write them in the comment box.
#1 Mohammed Shami – 7/57 vs New Zealand, Wankhede
Oh the Indian bowling unit was simply fierce and ferocious, cue in the two chief architects in Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami joined late by Jasprit Bumrah. It was the World Cup semi-final at Wankhede and India had their earlier ghosts swirling over their heads. But then Mohammed Shami came up roses and destructive as he laid waste to the Kiwi batting line-up in an initially very closely contested affair. He claimed seven wickets in the match, crafting India’s path to victory.
#2 Mohammed Siraj – 6/21 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo
Miyan Magic left the world in awe, probably registering the most destructive spell of 2023 as he skittled out Sri Lanka in the flash of an eye, leading the Indian bowling attack emphatically. Siraj was in top form throughout the year, proving to be most lethal in the powerplay and this performance from him was the finest of the lot.
#3 Ish Sodhi – 6/39 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur
Performing in the face of your opposition and that too in the latter’s backyard, it is fun to say the least. The Kiwi spinner left Bangladesh undone and clustered in an almost undoable knot. Stepping foot in Mirpur, Sodhi turned the ball left, right and center as the hosts could barely move around, trying to find an opening cluelessly.
#4 Jofra Archer – 6/40 vs South Africa, Kimberley
Even though Archer failed to sustain himself for a long time coming back from an injury, Archer did find himself roaring and soaring in that brief period of time. He rocked South Africa brilliantly with a phenomenal performance, registering numbers of 6/40 and that too stepping foot precariously. Archer’s brutal pace proved to be the undoing for the opposition in this instance.
#Kuldeep Yadav – 5/25 vs Pakistan, Colombo
Another Indian finding himself shining through the echelons, Kuldeep Yadav managed to leave the opposition twisted in a spell of awe and terror. Coming back from a long hiatus, Kuldeep Yadav was shining brighter than ever. The special spell came against India’s arch-rivals with figures of 5/25 as Pakistan could hardly try and fight back against India’s indomitable force.
