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India in West Indies 2016: The fast bowling conundrum

India will take on West Indies in a four-match Test series, beginning from July 21.

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Ishant Sharma look to lead from the front in the fast bowling department during the Test series against West Indies © Getty Images
Ishant Sharma look to lead from the front in the fast bowling department during the Test series against West Indies © Getty Images

India are going in with as many as six fast bowlers for the tour of West Indies.  The Indian team management will surely face a dilemma when it comes to chosing the combination of bowlers they want to field in the Test series. Shardul Thakur is the only new face in the Indian side and will perhaps get a game only if some of the other bowlers get injured. It will most certainly be Ishant Sharma, who will be leading the pack. Ishant is one of the most experienced players in the test team with over 200 wickets in 68 Tests, he is a sure starter for India in all games. READ: Thakur: Keen to work with Kumble

Having missed out on 16 months of international cricket, Mohammed Shami will be keen to prove that he belongs in the international circuit. He did not play a single game for Bengal in Ranji Trophy 2015-16, but made a roaring return to competitive cricket in India’s first-ever pink ball match where he picked up a five-wicket haul as well. But it will be interesting to see if his body can hold up for an entire Test and more importantly the entire series. With 47 wickets in 12 Tests, Shami will once again look to regain his form at the biggest stage. READ: Shami: Maintaining right line and length key against WI

Bhuvneshwar Kumar found his rhythm in recently concluded Indian premier League 9 (IPL), where he represented Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Many believed that he had lost his swing, which was his specialty in the beginning of career. He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, but did not make the cut for the Zimbabwe tour. He however found a place in the Test team and he will surely bring some variation in the fast bowling department. His medium pace, swing bowling may be suitable in Caribbean conditions where fast bowlers get swing, giving the bowling attack a new dimension altogether. Bhuvneshwar is also a handy batsman to have down the order.

Umesh Yadav is yet another bowler with brute pace. He is perhaps the fastest bowler India have at their disposal, but he has often been criticised for not being accurate enough. Umesh played a key role in the Delhi Test against South Africa in the final session of the match, where he picked up crucial wickets to help India to yet another convincing win. He was once again expensive for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and was also dropped for a few games. However, Umesh was excellent in few games he played in the Ranji Trophy 2015-16, claiming 13 victims in four matches.READ: Ajinkya Rahane looking forward to challenging West Indies tour

The list does not end here. Other than Shardul, who has had a couple of excellent seasons for Mumbai, India also have the option of Stuart Binny. One gets the feeling that there will be a toss-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Binny for the place of an all-rounder and Jadeja might just get the nod, considering the kind of form he showed in previous series against South Africa. Binny, a good line and length bowler and a gritty batsman in the middle-order, may not be India’s first-choice all-rounder throughout the series, but is a handy asset, nevertheless.

Skipper Virat Kohli and the team management will have to assess the conditions and then make a call, but India will be glad that they have the option. India play a couple of warm-up matches before the first Test on July 21 and will give them a fair idea on whom to pick in the side.. READ: Kumble called up Shastri as soon as BCCI revealed head coach results

India will mostly go in with three seamers and two spinners, which will mean that the rest will have to sit out. With so much depth and variety in the fast bowling department, India will be spoilt for choices, but will hope that they make the right call when the time comes.

(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at Cricketcountry.com. He is a sport enthusiast and a keen observer of cricket, the contests, and its personalities. When not tracking cricket, he follows the world’s soccer leagues and is somewhat partial towards Liverpool. His Twitter handle is @pramz)

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