Published: Apr 29, 2011, 11:07 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 21, 2014, 05:05 PM (IST)
By Abhishek Navratan Jain
Team India does not have batting worries as there is no dearth of talented batsmen. The worries are centered round the bowling department, fast bowling in particular.
India could never boast of having the luxury of six to seven quality fast bowlers playing in same era. The team was always powered by one quality fast bowler with little or no fast support at the other end.
Indian cricket is going through purple patch at the moment. India is No.1 in the Test ranking and No 2 in the ODI rankings. The team won the World Cup and is doing well in T20 as well. But even when the going is good, the question that haunts Indian cricket is: Who next after Zaheer Khan?
Waiting in the wings are a few qualitative young quicks.
First and foremost name is 19-year-old Deepak Chahar from Rajasthan. He made his Ranji Trophy debut this season against Hyderabad. And what a sensational debut it was! Chahar took 8 for ten as Rajasthan bowled out Hyderabad for just 21 runs! Among the top three wicket-takers this Ranji season, his bowling played a crucial role in Rajasthan’s first Ranji Trophy triumph. Chahar possesses a lethal out-swinger and bowls at lively pace.
Another guy who stormed into the scene is Varun Aaron from Jharkhand. He is 21 years old and currently the fastest in India. He came into the limelight when he bowled the fastest ball – clocked 153.7 km on the speed gun – in the Vijay Hazare ODI tournament against Gujarat. He consistently bowls at 150 plus. Varun struggled with few back injuries earlier in his career, but has recovered well. The Jamshedpur Express is playing for Delhi Daredevils in the ongoing IPL. He is clearly the next shining star from Jharkhand, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Saurabh Tiwary.
Umesh Yadav, 23, has already gained the attention of the National selectors. The Vidarbha lad is very sharp and quick. He consistently hits the 145 km mark and bowls a very mean bouncer. Ask Sachin Tendulkar, who was hit on the head while practicing against Yadav in nets. Yadav is representing Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. He got into Indian team and toured South Africa last year, but did not get the opportunity to play on the game on that tour. He played couple of ODI games for India last year. A very good prospect.
Ishant Sharma, 22, is probably the most talented. He made a sensational debut in Australia couple of seasons back and troubled Ricky Ponting before scalping him. After that he lost his way somewhat and did not play consistently for the country. He missed the World Cup as well. But IPL4 has given him new life. He is bowling fast and looks in great rhythm. He picked up his first fiver of IPL on Wednesday against Kochi and was brilliantly hostile. It looks like he has worked hard on his fitness and on his bowling during lay-off.
Jaydev Unadkat, 19, hails from Saurashtra. He came in for praise at the last IPL from no less an authority than Wasim Akram. Undakat is left-arm bowler who has been consistent in domestic cricket. He was selected for the South Africa tour last year and made his debut in third Test match of the series. His outing was not impressive as he remained wicketless in that game. But he is young and under Akram’s guidance, he will become real force in future.
Abu Nechim plays for Assam in the Ranji Trophy. He is 22 years old and very quick and talented. Nechim bowls at 140+ km consistently and to a very good line and length. He is playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has done well at domestic level.
India have the raw bowling talent. It’s encouraging that they all are under 23 years of age and bowling at 140+ km speed consistently.
The BCCI has to nurture and hone these promising bowlers and give them the breaks they deserve at the right moment. More importantly, they should be persevered with for a while to give them the necessary confidence.
(Abhishek Navratan Jain is a System Engineer and is involved in family business. Cricket is his passion and loves to discuss the game anytime. He has had the distinct privilege of watching all the 99 centuries of Sachin Tendulkar and that too live! He is proud to have never missed a Tendulkar century.)
