IPL 2024: Player Analysis: Could Ravi Bishnoi's T20 World Cup dream be fading away?

Ravi Bishnoi’s dip in form couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup looms close. With less than two weeks until the squad announcement, the legspinner’s lackluster performances have put his inclusion in jeopardy. Expected to lead Lucknow Super Giants’ bowling attack, Bishnoi has struggled to make an impact in the ongoing IPL season, failing to pick up wickets and leaking runs consistently.

Once regarded as India’s premier T20I spinner, Bishnoi’s recent outings have been far from impressive. Despite being the second-highest wicket-taker for India since the 2022 T20 World Cup, his form in the IPL has been middling at best. With just seven games into the season, Bishnoi’s underwhelming displays have been a major letdown for both his franchise and his aspirations to represent the national team.

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Bishnoi’s Performance Analysis: Impact at Different Lengths

Bishnoi’s season got off to a rocky start, managing just one wicket in the initial three games with concerning figures of 1/38, 0/25, and 0/33 against Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bangalore respectively. His economy rate soared to 9.6, indicating a struggle to contain runs. Despite a slight improvement in the following three matches, where he claimed three wickets at a better average of 16.7 and an economy rate of 5.8, his impact remained limited as he bowled fewer overs.

Against Gujarat, Bishnoi bowled only two overs while Thakur stole the show with five wickets. The match against Chennai presented a crucial opportunity for Bishnoi to showcase his credentials for the T20 World Cup selection. However, it turned out to be another disappointing outing as he conceded 44 runs in his four overs, while his spin partner Krunal Pandya fared better with figures of 2/16 in three overs.

Despite occasional glimpses of form, Bishnoi’s inconsistency and inability to make significant breakthroughs have raised doubts about his selection prospects for the national team. One of the key areas where Bishnoi has faltered is his economy rate, particularly when bowling full-length deliveries. This season, he has struggled to maintain control and has often been expensive when pitching the ball full, allowing batsmen to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Additionally, opponents have started to play him differently, treating him more like an offspinner rather than a traditional leg-spinner. This shift in approach has made it challenging for Bishnoi to deceive batters with his googlies, resulting in a decrease in effectiveness and an increase in his economy rate.

Furthermore, Bishnoi’s reliance on googlies has become a double-edged sword, as batters have become adept at picking his variations. Despite bowling a significant portion of his deliveries as googlies, his economy rate is surprisingly lower when delivering them compared to conventional legbreaks and flippers.

This indicates a lack of variation and adaptability in his bowling, making it easier for batters to anticipate and counter his deliveries. As a result, Bishnoi finds himself in a precarious position, with his chances of selection for the T20 World Cup dwindling as the tournament progresses.