Nidahas Trophy 2018: 5 talking points about India from the tournament

#3 Inconsistent fast bowlers

Thakur has bowled impressively in the death overs

The performance of fast bowlers has been far from impressive this series. With the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah rested, the series was an ideal opportunity for Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj to establish themselves as the third bowling option in the Indian T20 team.

However apart from Thakur who has impressed in patches, Unadkat and Siraj disappointed. Thakur picked up 4 wickets in the third match against Sri Lanka but was indifferent in the first game against them. Thakur was taken to the cleaners in his first over in a couple of matches, but he has made a strong case for himself as a death overs bowler and picked up 6 wickets in the Nidahas Trophy. He was inconsistent in the finals and conceded 45 runs in 4 overs.

Jaydev Unadkat was expected to lead the pace attack this series. However he was dropped after the first three games due to his indifferent form. The left-handed seamer picked up 2 wickets and gave away 33 runs in the finals and picked up 7 wickets in the Nidahas Trophy. Like Thakur, Unadkat impressed in patches and would require a consistent performance to establish himself as a permanent fixture in the Indian T20 team.

Siraj has had a tough start to his international career till date. In 3 T20 internationals, he has picked up 3 wickets but his economy of 12.33 and average of 49.33 is a cause of concern for the team management. His only game in the tournament was against Bangladesh when he leaked runs in his 4 overs conceding 50 runs and picking up a solitary wicket.