India has developed into one of the finest fast bowling units in Test cricket. Since the start of 2018, the Indian pacer has scaled new heights with his pace and accuracy, creating fear in the minds of opposition batsmen. Led by Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma, India have a clear fast battery that has been crucial to their dominance away from home in recent times.
However, newly-appointed Test vice-captain KL Rahul said that it is not just the opposition batsmen who fear India’s fast bowlers, but their own batsmen as well when they face them in the nets. Rahul said the fast bowlers are “extremely competitive athletes”, adding that they have intimidated India’s batsmen at the nets.
South Africa vs India 1st Test: report , Highlight
Rahul’s remarks came after India registered their maiden win over South Africa in a Test match at Centurion. Riding on their century and another stellar bowling performance from the fast trio of Shami, Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, India won by 113 runs and went 1-0 up in the 3-match Test series.
“It’s more difficult to play them at the nets because we don’t enjoy facing them in the nets. Even at the nets, they scare us. They don’t see us as teammates, they are very, very competitive athletes and players.” Rahul said after a big win at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
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India’s quest for overseas supremacy began during the 2018 tour of South Africa. During the highly competitive series, India’s swift attack indicated what was to come. Their series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 and their dominance over England in England in 2021 are based on the performance of the fast bowling attack.
Since 2018, Mohammed Shami has taken 108 wickets at an average of 23.68 while Bumrah has taken 106 wickets at an average of 22.33. Ishant Sharma, who did not play the first Test in Centurion, has taken 85 wickets at an average of 21.37. Umesh Yadav, who was also benched for the first Test, scored 57 runs at 21.26. The arrival of Mohammad Siraj has further strengthened the pace attack.
Emphasizing that India have a similar pace attack, KL Rahul said: “We are very fortunate to have such quality in our bowling line-up. Two, three guys who are also on the bench. Umesh in more Ishant, we have a great bench strength. It is a very positive sign for Team India that there are a lot of quality fast bowlers in the team and on the bench.”
Shami led the show for India in Centurion, taking 8 wickets including taking 5 wickets in the first innings. The quartet of Shami, Bumrah, Siraj and Shardul Thakur took 18 of the 20 South African wickets that fell in Centurion.
Highlighting Shami’s consistency, Rahul said: “I think, in the last 3-4 years, he has come up with such performances. I don’t think it will be a special year for him that he has performed I think he has been a really important bowler and a very strong player who has done well for us in all conditions. Hope he keeps getting better and scales new heights in 2022.”