Top 5 Indian ODI bowlers in recent times

Ishant Sharma has failed to replicate his Test heroics in the ODI formatCricket is often described as a contest between the bat and the ball. But in recent times a number of rule changes, shorter grounds, heavier bats and the advent of T20 cricket has seen the game becoming more and more of a contest between the bat and the bat as the power hitters from both sides try to outwit each other. There are times when the bowlers’ job looks redundant. There are infinite jokes about replacing the bowlers with bowling machines. But as the popular saying goes, 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going.' With the ODI series against South Africa upon us, here we bring to you a list of 5 Indian ODI bowlers who have made their mark in recent years.

#5 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav

There are very few genuine pacers in India and they are really hard to come by. Umesh Yadav is one of those who bowls regularly at 140 kph, can move the ball both ways and has an effective bouncer. A captain’s dream? Yes, only if he wasn’t so injury prone.

On the pitches that assist him, he can be really effective and lethal. 69 wickets in 50 ODIs with 4/31 as his best figures, he has tried to take Zaheer Khan’s place in the team and has somewhat succeeded. It remains to be seen what the future hold for him.

#4 Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja

The hero of India’s Champions Trophy victory in 2013, he has often been ridiculed in the past. Given the nickname Rockstar by legendary spinner Shane Warne, he has been India’s second-choice spinner in ODIs for a long time. His lightning-fast fielding makes him even more useful in the team.

In August 2013, he topped the ICC's ODI rankings, the first Indian since Anil Kumble in 1996. 144 wickets in 121 matches at an economy rate of 4.85 isn’t an easy task. Right now he finds himself out of the team right now but like in the past he will hopefully come back stronger after a good Ranji season.

#3 Mohammad Shami

Mohammad Shami

He is the man with the best average among all the Indian bowlers who have bowled 100 balls or more. In his first international appearance against Pakistan in 2013, he became the first Indian bowler to have bowled 4 or more maiden overs on debut.

He had an excellent run at the 2015 World Cup 2015 where he became India’s second highest wicket taker with 17 wickets at 17.29 at an economy rate of 4.81. It later emerged that he played the World Cup through pain and injury in his left knee.

#2 R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin

If there is one player who gets unnecessary flak, it is Ravichandran Ashwin. 139 wickets in 99 matches is no mean task. His performance at the World Cup 2015 made the world take notice of him. This came on the back of a lean patch in New Zealand and South Africa where it was said that Ashwin could not produce results on conditions that didn’t assist him.

Anil Kumble has said that he sees shades of himself in Ashwin and nothing could be a bigger compliment for the off break bowler from Tamil Nadu. He is India’s leading spinner for now and has made sure no one misses Harbhajan Singh.

#1 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

This young medium pacer from Uttar Pradesh had a dream debut in the ODIs when he bowled Mohammad Hafeez with his first delivery and since then he has been the captain’s go-to man at the start of the innings as well as in the death overs. His wickets in the initial overs have put the opposition under pressure on several occasions.

He has 53 wickets in 50 ODI matches and was unlucky to have missed out on the World Cup in Australia. His most memorable spell has to be against Sri Lanka at Port of Spain in 2013 when the Sri Lankan team chasing a target of 178 in 26 overs (D/L Method) was reduced to 4-31 after just 8.3 overs. India won the match by 81 runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the hearts of fans in India.