5 Indian fast bowlers who faded away after showing great promise 

#1 Irfan Pathan

Irfan was once hailed as the next Wasim Akram in the cricketing circles

People who saw Wasim Akram bowl in his prime found an uncanny resemblance in the way Irfan Pathan used to bowl. A smooth run-up and the ability to swing the ball like the iconic left-armer made Irfan a household name very early in his career.

Irfan made his debut in the 2003 Test series against Australia at the age of 19. From then on, he became a regular member of the Indian team in Tests as well as ODIs. His most memorable moment on the field was the hat-trick against Pakistan in the first over of the 2006 Karachi Test.

Apart from being a reliable swing bowler, Irfan could also contribute with the bat as well. His contributions lower down the order made him a valuable asset. However, as soon as Greg Chappell took on the role of the head coach, he started emphasizing more on Irfan's batting as well as remodelling his action for a longer career.

As a result of the over-coaching, Irfan lost the ability to swing the ball and became a mere shadow of a bowler he once was. He came back strongly in 2007 World T20 with a Man of the Match award in the final. However, a lack of penetration meant that he couldn't hold onto his place for long.