6 Indian fast bowlers who have lost their pace

The Indian team is renowned for the world class batsmen that is produces. In the current set-up, be it the explosive Virender Sehwag, ‘master blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar, the temperamental Gautam Gambhir, Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid or Captain Cool MS Dhoni, India has no dearth of talented bastmen who can take on the world. However, the team’s problem is the lack of real quality pace bowlers, a great handicap compared to other nations. Pakistan has 2-3 quality pacers, Sri Lanka has the ‘Slinger’ Malinga. Australia, South Africa, England and every other top cricketing nation has good fast bowling reserves, a department where India lacks. Here is looking at 6 of Indian cricket‘s fallen heroes, those fast bowlers who have regressed over time and are no longer genuine quickies.

1. Zaheer Khan

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Zaheer khan is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack and is the only bowler in the current team who can bowl at a pace reaching 135 kph. But is that enough to strike terror in the heart of batsmen? Sadly not. While Zaheer has improved greatly in his consistency and control over the years, he no longer possesses the demonic pace that he had at the 2003 World Cup. In terms of sheer pace, he is now a shadow of his former self.

2. Ashish Nehra

Having been one of my favourites, Nehra had that ‘eye of the tiger’ during his stint at 2003 World Cup. Indian fans will best remember him for his lethal destruction of England in that tournament, when he finished with figures of 6-23. Since then, mad critics calling him raw and unfinished have left him end up at bowling at 120 kph, after having started at 140! Lethal drop, I must say!

3. Munaf Patel

He was considered an unsung hero of the 2011 World Cup. But was he, really? His pace during the tournament reached just 120 kph, when in fact his best was in the 2006 Champions trophy when he struck terror reaching 140 kph. Just as in the case of Nehra, there has been a radical drop in the pace of Munaf’s bowling. When India desperately lacked a genuine pacer to do damage in England, Munaf could not fill in that slot, for he was no longer his former self. But he seems to have substituted his pace with some swing, I wonder why.

4. Irfan Pathan

Here is the man who was considered the succcessor of the ‘Sultan of swing’, Wasim Akram. Sadly, he now plies his trade in lowly Baroda and has been missing from international cricket since 2009. When I saw him claim a first over hat-trick vs Pakistan, I was proud that here was an Indian bowler who bowled at 135-140 kph and was excellent at reverse swing. Today, Irfan Pathan rarely reaches 120. He too seems to have followed in the footsteps of Munaf Patel by giving up his pace for swing.

5. Shantakumaran Sreesanth

Indian cricket’s controversial boy, who was once fiery in venting his feelings both with and without the ball. After going into rehab however, Sreesanth has changed, which makes me think perhaps he shouldn’t have gone for it. He was once one of the most aggressive bowlers in the world, who could be compared potentially with Shoaik Akhtar and Brett Lee. Now however, he swings at the wrong side at a fully wide position. He desperately needs advice to generate pace and return to his former self.

6. Rudra Pratap Singh

When I saw him bowl at the 2007 T20 World Cup where India were proclaimed champions, I believed he was a great pick by Dhoni. RP Singh was seen ripping through opponent wickets with great pace and swing, which was especially evident in the final stages of the tournament. Today, he too is a fallen hero and makes the headlines once a year.

These are 6 of Indian cricket’s greatest fallen heroes in the bowling department. It is vital India stop this rut and encourage pace attack. In Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, India has great potential. It is imperative that they are handled well in order to not see them take the road of the aforementioned 6 and lost their pace, which is their best weapon.

Edited by Zico