IPL 2020: 3 teams with the best new-ball bowling options

T20 cricket is a fast-paced format. Batting is characterized by power-hitting, slogs and innovative shots like the scoops and the reverse-sweeps, and the bowling has also seen a revolution in recent times.

Mystery spinners and a bucket load of slower-ball variations have come into the picture. The emphasis is on death bowling and the ability to restrict the opposition batting.

But time and again it has been proved that cricket in any form is more about doing the basics right, irrespective of the format. A batsman batting with the right technique can still be as effective as a batsman with typical T20 shots.

On the same lines, a fast bowler bowling tight lines and swinging the new ball to pick up wickets early in the innings is probably a bigger match-winner than a specialist death bowler. And in the modern game, new ball bowling is not limited to pacers; spinners have also mastered the art of bowling in the powerplays.

On that note, let us have a look at three franchises with the best set of new-ball bowlers in their squad.

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders have a perfect mix of international experience, proven IPL experience and young talent in the new-ball bowling department.

KKR have some great new-ball bowling options this year

Pat Cummins: All eyes will be on Pat Cummins, the star of the IPL 2020 Auction. An important factor that led to a bidding war for the No. 1 Test bowler is that he was instrumental in Australia's historic series win against India in 2019. The Indian batting was ripped to shreds by Cummins, who picked up 14 wickets in 5 matches on flat Indian pitches. The right-arm pacer has great control with the new ball.

Lockie Ferguson - The menacing Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson is known for his raw pace, and he picked up 10 wickets in 6 T20Is last year. He was a part of the KKR setup in 2019 but did not get many chances.

Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti - The two young Indian pacers can consistently clock speeds in excess of 140 kph. Both make good use of the wrist while releasing the ball, enabling them to swing the new cherry.

Sunil Narine and Andre Russell - Sunil Narine has opened the bowling for KKR on many occasions, and has been effective too. Andre Russell has great death bowling skills but the KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik did try giving him the new ball last year; maybe it's time to experiment with that in 2020?

2. Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni's aggressive approach to pick up wickets with the new ball has worked wonders for Chennai Super Kings, who played in their 8th IPL final last year.

MS Dhoni's experiment of giving Chahar the new ball has worked wonders for CSK

Deepak Chahar - Deepak Chahar was CSK's unsung hero in IPL 2019. He was able to hit those tempting lengths and swing the ball both ways with metronomic consistency, picking up a mind-blowing 13 wickets (out of the a total of 17 to his name) in the powerplay overs.

Harbhajan Singh - The veteran spinner used all his mastery to trick top-order batsmen last year, especially the left-handers. He took the responsibility to bowl in the powerplays and created a lot of trouble for the top-order batsmen.

KM Asif - The Kerala superstar fast bowler was in stupendous form last year and bowled exceedingly well with the new ball in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments. He may get to play in more matches for CSK in this IPL edition.

Mitchell Santner - If the No. 3 T20I bowler Mitchell Santner is given a chance in the lineup, it would be interesting to see if Dhoni uses him in the powerplays. Santner's strength is accuracy, which is important in the powerplays.

Lungi Ngidi - Ngidi is an exciting young talent. He missed IPL 2019 due to an injury but CSK have retained him for IPL 2020. Ngidi's aggressive new-ball bowling in IPL 2018 helped him pick up 11 wickets in 7 matches.

Josh Hazlewood and Sam Curran - Both the speedsters are adept at making the new ball talk.

1. Mumbai Indians

Jasprit Bumrah

Mumbai Indians are the IPL's most successful franchise, having won four IPL titles. Although their strength lies in power-hitting and tremendous death bowling, they do also have the new ball bowlers who can wreak havoc in the opposition batting lineup right from ball one.

Rahul Chahar - The young leggie Rahul Chahar bowled with great control and outfoxed many batsmen last year. Chahar became skipper Rohit Sharma's go-to man in the powerplays, as he didn't give the batsmen any room. He picked up 13 wickets in 13 games at an astounding economy rate of 6.55.

Jasprit Bumrah - Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly the best bowler MI have got. Sharma prefers keeping him for the death, but an over from him in the powerplays can rattle the opposition.

Mitchell McClenaghan and Trent Boult - These two New Zealand left-handed fast bowlers are great exponents of swing bowling, especially at bringing the ball back into the right-hand batsman.

Nathan Coulter-Nile and Lasith Malinga - Nathan Coulter-Nile and the veteran Lasith Malinga are other new-ball bowling options that MI have. Both of them can bowl good out-swingers, and have great control over their lines and lengths.