India is a country that is not popular for being a hub for pace bowlers. It is always known for its batting and at the maximum its fielding abilities. But since the last 5 years, the scenario has changed significantly. It is the Indian bowling that is winning games for India than Indian batting. Year after year, the bowlers have done exceptionally well. This has inspired several other youngsters to take up pace bowling. Here is a look at 5 young Indian Pacers who have assured us of a safe future of pace bowling in India: –
Umran Malik: –
The entry of Umran Malik into world cricket is just another example of how powerful the IPL is. A boy who was once bowling on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir has gone on to play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. More than any other factor, Umran’s pace sets him apart. He has played for Jammu and Kashmir, at the domestic levels. He under the guidance of senior player Irfan Pathan has done wonders for Jammu and Kashmir. Umran Malik is said to be a scouting prodigy of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He also happens to have bowled the fastest ball of IPL 2021 at 156kmph.
This young speed sensation has made Indians believe that anything is possible if you believe. Umran caught the eye of the community and the fans in his first game itself. He was consistently bowling quickly. Each of his deliveries was above 145 kmph. If he remains injury-free and bowls the right lengths, he can be more than an asset for Indian Cricket.
Avesh Khan: –
This boy from Indore has made himself a household name after dominating the IPL for almost two years. Avesh Khan doesn’t have the pace to scare away the opposition but he is a silent killer. His line, length, and positioning are precise. He has a good set of slower balls and a well-disguised cutter. His slower bouncer adds another dimension to his bowling. Avesh Khan was an integral member of the Under-19 team under the captaincy of Ishan Kishan, which featured the likes of Rishabh Pant, Khaleel Ahmed, and Sarfaraz Khan.
Avesh Khan currently plays for Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji trophy. He has formed a strong alliance with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje at the Delhi Capitals Camp. He has taken the wicket of MSD on three consecutive occasions.
Prasidh Krishna: –
Prasidh Krishna is one name that has been hovering around the national cricket team for quite some time. Krishna first burst on the scene in the 2018 IPL, while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He has been traveling around the world with the national cricket team since then. What gives Prasidh the upper hand is his express pace. This was the first instance that the Indian crowd was seeing a bowler bowl 145+ for an entire over. Prasidh Krishna is a thinking player and knows a lot about his game. After making his One Day International debut in the series against England, Prasidh will now be looking to explore more chances.
He troubled Virat Kohli in the 2019 game where Virat scored a match-winning hundred against KKR. Prasidh was also the standby player kept for the 2019 ODI World Cup. His abilities have made Karnataka a dominant state in domestic cricket.
Navdeep Saini: –
Navdeep Saini is certainly a name that has been troubling the domestic batsman for years now. After spotting him in the streets of Karnal, Gautam Gambhir made sure that Navdeep plays for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. Navdeep is unrealistically super quick. He can consecutively bowl thunderbolts with a pace over 150. Navdeep Saini showed his capabilities in the 2019 home T20 Series against Sri Lanka where he was Man of the Series.
In the past year, the most significant achievement by Navdeep Saini was his test debut. He debuted in the third test match of the series. The other achievement for him was winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy for India. The streets will never forget his contribution, where he chose to bowl a spell of 5 overs even after suffering a muscle pull.
Mohammad Siraj: –
Of all the players on the list, Mohammad Siraj had to be the top-ranked. This Miya from Hyderabad has set the cricketing world on fire ever since his debut. The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020/2021 belonged to Mohammad Siraj. He was India’s leading wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets in 3 games. His spell in the final deciding match is something that Indian fans will never forget.
Mohammad Siraj was scouted by the Sunrisers Hyderabad from the streets. His father was an auto-rickshaw driver and supported his kid’s dream of playing cricket. After making his debut in 2016, Mohammad Siraj finally got his due in 2021. He might not be as effective with the white ball. But with the red ball in hand, Siraj creates magic. Although, his recent performances with the white ball too have improved. He has the aggression that captain Kohli likes to have in his men.