Blowing hot and cold: Assessing India's top bowling options

Mohammed Shami: Rating: 6/10

Mohammed Shami

Many pundits of the game have called for a revolution in India’s domestic circuit so as to produce more fast bowlers. However, if you observe closely then India has been producing some top talent in the last half-a-decade.

The problem, instead, has been India’s inability to allow them to transition gradually from potentially top bowlers to top bowlers. Many factors have been involved: injury setbacks, early and insistent exposure to international cricket, lack of focus, poor backroom coaching and so on. The focus must now shift from unearthing new talent, which would obviously continue, to shielding and nurturing the current pool of players.

Mohammed Shami is one such prospect that beams brightly for Indian cricket even though his recent exploits may have been limited. He has some great elements in his game. He bowls at a refreshing pace, can swing the ball as well as produce some movement off the pitch.

He exploits the old ball beautifully in dry conditions as we saw late in 2013. He had a successful tour against the West Indies at home, but that can only be read a sign of his talent and not as achievement, and has since earned some vital experience through stern tests in New Zealand and South Africa.

India should ideally rest him after the hectic schedule of Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, but with the IPL looming large that seems to be highly unlikely. I fear that he may face a burn-out soon.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Rating: 5.5/10

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The lad from Uttar Pradesh made a stunning appearance in international cricket producing some quality performances against arch-rivals Pakistan in the shorter format of the game and has become a mainstay in the side.

His ability to swing the new ball both ways, and prodigiously so, makes him a difficult commodity. The great thing about Bhuvneshwar is his accuracy and focus; he is at the batsman from the word go and doesn’t allow his a few warm-up deliveries.

It is often observed that he earns his scalps early on in the game giving India a massive boost up-front. The down-side with his skill-set as is the case with most Indian talent is that he doesn’t bowl at alarming pace. He is still young and can add a yard of pace to his game.

He hasn’t been able to prove himself in the Test format though it must be added that he hasn’t had many opportunities. It would have been interesting to see him exploit more supportive conditions. However, one can argue potently that he didn’t deserve the call on the merit of his ODI performances in New Zealand and South Africa.

Unlike what was expected, he seemed to struggle in more supportive conditions and his swing faded. That must not be read as a sign of some momentous loss. Bhuvneshwar will have a huge role to play in the upcoming events that India will participate in: T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.

Others: Mohit Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Jaidev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav

India has a wealth of options to rely upon for the shorter format of the game. Mohit Sharma and Vinay Kumar are wily customers who have proved themselves consistently at the domestic level and in the Indian Premier League.

They do not have breathtaking pace but they have a knack of picking wickets when the batsmen are adamant upon going hammer and tongs. It is difficult for me to imagine them becoming a part of the Test squad. Umesh Yadav and Jaidev Unadkat are more promising talents in that aspect.

Umesh Yadav

Yadav burst onto the scene and was taken note of for his pace but midway he seemed to be caught up in a dilemma: whether to opt for pace or to sacrifice a yard for the purpose of swing and accuracy. He needs proper guidance in the immediate future and one hopes that he will come through his unfortunate injuries.

Unadkat hasn’t seen much of International cricket yet apart from a relatively irrelevant series against Zimbabwe. Being a left-arm bowler who has decent pace, swing and accuracy, he can add to our present options. India must not throw him in the heat but nurture him as a squad player who can chip in to get the hang of International cricket.