India’s batting jigsaw looks complete, but bowling evokes a sense of unease

Having sealed the series, the third and final T20I will be the home team’s last official attempt at tying loose ends up before the marquee ICC T20 World Cup

India may have already clinched the three-match T20I series against South Africa, but encounters in the lead up to a World Cup are about more than just results. They are iterative exercises toward yielding the ideal team combination.

Tuesday’s third and final T20I at the Holkar Stadium here will be India’s final such official attempt before the marquee ICC T20 World Cup begins in Australia later this month.

Of particular concern is the side’s bowling, with Jasprit Bumrah now ruled out of the World Cup and the need to find his replacement of paramount importance.

In Guwahati, every bowler’s figures, except Deepak Chahar’s, went north. The match was admittedly a high-scoring affair (458 runs), with both sets of bowlers chasing leather for much of the hot and humid evening, but the think tank is sure to feel the unease.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, after starting with two wickets in his opening over, went on to concede 62 runs.

Worryingly, he bowled three no-balls, and got hit for 13 runs off the resultant free-hits, including two sixes.

While skipper Rohit Sharma would hope for better returns from Arshdeep, Mohammed Siraj, a potential candidate to replace Bumrah – along with Chahar – will do well with an outing.