India once had a fearsome fast-bowling attack, but now its future looks uncertain following the careers of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Not long ago, India’s pace attack included Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. This five-pronged attack was considered one of the best in world cricket since the legendary West Indian quartet of the 1980s. Under Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri, the plan was simple: take 20 wickets regularly in Test matches, whether at home or abroad.
Depth and Pace Are Waning
Since Kohli stepped down as Test captain and Bharat Arun left as bowling coach, Indian pace bowling has struggled. Injuries and a drop in pace have become major concerns. Promising bowlers have failed to fill the gap. Akash Deep missed the fourth Test at Manchester due to a groin injury. All-rounder Nitish Reddy pulled his hamstring. Harshit Rana was surprisingly added to the squad at the last minute but then dropped before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy began. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh and Abhimanyu Easwaran haven’t played a match yet.
Who Will Step Up?
With Mohammed Shami frequently injured, his international career seems near its end unless something changes. Harshit Rana can bowl in the mid-140 km/h range but struggles with consistency. Arshdeep Singh might soon break into the playing XI, but options beyond him remain scarce.
An Indian support staff member told The Indian Express, “Not many bowlers in domestic cricket can even reach 135 km/h, which is the minimum pace needed for Test cricket.”
Domestic Talent Falls Short
Anshul Kamboj’s experience highlights the problem. Despite strong performances in domestic cricket, he struggled internationally. He took a wicket but lost pace and stamina as England’s batsmen dominated. He rarely bowled over 130 km/h. His struggles reminded many of Pankaj Singh’s poor performances in England more than a decade ago.
Akash Deep showed promise during his Test debut against England, bowling with pace and movement. But when England adopted an aggressive batting style, Akash lost his rhythm and effectiveness. Prasidh Krishna can take wickets but often leaks runs. Though these bowlers show potential, they still need work to become consistent international players.
Limited Options Outside the Core Group
Beyond these names, the outlook is grim. Umran Malik, who impressed with his speed in IPL 2022, has faded. Khaleel Ahmed last played for India in July 2024. Mukesh Kumar hasn’t appeared for India since last year’s T20Is for unclear reasons. The list of fast-bowling prospects is short. None yet match the skill, pace, or stamina of Siraj or Bumrah.
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