Indore: India's bowling displays in the recent past is only the latest in what has been consistently incisive performances over the last few years, no matter what the conditions. The bowling is largely the reason why India have a win percentage of 61% since Virat Kohli took over as captain.
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| Indian fast bowlers ran through Bangladesh batting line up |
Virat Kohli was enthralled with his team's performance after their emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the Indore Test on Saturday. The fast bowling trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav shared 14 wickets between them in the first Test and Virat Kohli believes they were on the top of their game.
The India captain also said the current set of fast bowlers is a dream combination for any captain, adding that when Jasprit Bumrah returns from injury "we'll have one hell of a bowling attack to counter". "These guys are on top of their game, when they bowl, it looks like any pitch is a good pitch, Jasprit isn't here but this is a dream combination for any captain," Kohli said during the post match interview.
A nation of batsman-worshippers and spinners has seen, jaws dropped in disbelief, the building of a fast bowling unit that can hold its own against the very best in the world. And credit must be given where it is due. The one constant in India’s set up through this period of growth, evolution even, has been Bharat Arun, the bowling coach.
Can this fast bowling unit be compared with the Australian unit of the 1990s or the West Indian quartet of the 1980s? Are they the best-ever Indian bowling unit of all time? With Jasprit Bumrah back, is it fair to call this Indian bowling unit the best in the world? And with Ashwin and Jadeja as the two spinners, does the Indian bowling have the best balance in contemporary cricket?
If the batsmen think they have played off Ishant and Umesh, there is Shami to follow. And if Bumrah plays, there is always the threat of him coming and picking wickets in a heap.
In swinging conditions, Virat has the luxury of getting Bhuvi in the mix in place of Umesh. It is this luxury of options that makes Virat’s team a ruthless unit keen to win every game they play.
Russell Domingo now Bangladesh coach heaps praise of Indian bowling unit, four years ago Domingo who was South African coach then complained about Indian pitches offering way more assistance for spinners. This time around Domingo has come up with saying 'Indian bowling no longer rely on spinners'
Impressed with Shami's skills, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar compared the fast bowler to a leopard who is always ready to pounce upon his prey.
"When he is running in. When the spider cam actually takes it, it is such a sight. It is almost like a leopard going for a kill," Gavaskar said.
With his bowling, Shami also left Gautam Gambhir in his awe, who called him the best red-ball fast bowler in the world cricket.
"Every ball that he bowls, there is something happening. There is this expectation that he is going to get a wicket off every ball. Not many fast bowlers in Indian conditions have that skill. Every time against any opposition, Obviously you can talk that Bangladesh is not that good an opposition. But look at what he did against South Africa. Look at what he did in Vizag in those conditions which were absolutely flat. We don't give enough credit to the Indian fast bowlers. We always talk about foreign fast bowlers. But for me, this is a pure exhibition of manners," Gambhir said.
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