New Delhi, Feb 28 (NationPress) Zimbabwe's bowling consultant Courtney Walsh praised his bowlers for their impressive discipline and execution of bowling strategies during the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, despite the wickets column not reflecting their true impact.

Zimbabwe made headlines by finishing atop Group B and is now focused on concluding their campaign positively against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this Sunday, after suffering heavy defeats in their Super Eights matches against the West Indies and India. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani has led their wicket-taking efforts with 12 scalps, seven of which were taken during power-play.

Players such as Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, captain Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Graeme Cremer have provided solid support. “I believe, given the variety we possess in our bowling attack, we have gained significant learning since our arrival here. However, while Blessing, Richard, and Brad have consistently performed, the statistics may not fully express that,” he stated.

“In terms of executing our game plans, the team has performed exceptionally well. Cremer, Raza, and Burl have all contributed at different times. The potential within the squad is promising, and this experience will guide us for improvement in all areas moving forward,” Walsh, the legendary West Indies pacer, expressed during a pre-match press conference with IANS.

After showcasing impressive skills in the group stages, Zimbabwe's bowling unit faced challenges in maintaining their performance during the Super Eights stage. Following two matches where they conceded over 250 runs against the West Indies and India, the bowling unit is eager for a stronger performance. Walsh pointed out that the performances in these two games were affected by a significant shift in conditions moving from Sri Lanka to India.

“The conditions we encountered here, along with the pitches, were quite different. In Sri Lanka, the pitches had more turn, while here, it was easier to bat. The ball came onto the bat much better, so we needed to execute our plans more accurately, which we did not manage to do as well as we could have,” he explained.

“It took time for us to adjust. We didn't adapt as swiftly as desired, and the surface was quite different. Therefore, our execution didn't align with our plans, but I still believe the team put in their best efforts.”

“We hope to learn a lot from these conditions for future encounters. A crucial takeaway is the necessity to adapt quickly to varying conditions, which will be invaluable for the team moving forward,” he elaborated.

Given the style of cricket Zimbabwe has displayed throughout the tournament, Walsh believes the cricketing world might begin to regard Zimbabwe as a formidable team. “The type of cricket we have played has demonstrated our abilities. The players were quite consistent in Sri Lanka and performed admirably. We aimed to make a statement here, and I believe our performance has done just that. We are proud of how they have played, and it’s an achievement to be part of the Super Eight,” he noted.

When asked if Zimbabwe should engage more frequently with countries like India and other top cricketing nations to further their development, Walsh affirmed. “That would be highly beneficial for us, and it aligns with the captain's sentiments regarding our need for more matches against higher-ranked teams, as that is one of the best ways to improve.”

“If we can organize those tours, it will enhance Zimbabwe cricket's growth. It would inspire more youth in Zimbabwe to take up cricket, and it would offer valuable experience to our current players. Since my arrival, you can see the changes, and the players are enthusiastic to be here and want to make a statement. With one game remaining, if we can consolidate our efforts and finish strongly, we would be very pleased,” he concluded.

Walsh also shared his thoughts on the upcoming India-West Indies match in Kolkata set for Sunday evening. “It promises to be an exciting contest. I'm uncertain about the conditions in Kolkata, but I believe that the team with superior bowling will emerge victorious, as both teams possess strong batting line-ups. Thus, the team that executes their bowling strategy better will have a greater chance of winning this match.”