The Indian team has never been widely regarded for having the finest of fast bowlers, though from time to time the side has often produced several legendary pacers from Kapil Dev to Mohammed Shami, though the majority of the greats have been spinners playing under subcontinent conditions.
From the nation of Anil Kumble, Ravi Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev emerged as one of India’s greatest fast bowlers and still remains the bowler with the most wickets across formats for India.
Zaheer Khan, another of India’s finest pace-bowling sensations, is also the second-highest wicket-taker for India, after surpassing Javagal Srinath, who previously held the record, considering his acute record in ODIs.
As of now, Jasprit Bumrah, the greatest pace bowling match-winner India has ever produced, has for long been the speculative genius of Indian cricket. Bumrah is widely regarded for his sublime accuracy and low average. Bumrah and Mohammed Shami form the deadliest pace combo of this decade, which they showcased in the CWC 2023, but ever since then, India has missed the services of Shami owing to injury.
Now some reports have claimed that Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the sole dependent player in India’s pace attack in 2024, faced a back spasm in the final test at Sydney, owing to which he was not allowed to step on the field in India’s fourth innings against the Aussies.
Bumrah is supposed to be taken to New Zealand for scans and, as of now, is doubtful for the Champions Trophy. While Shami is expected to be back in the Indian side for the England ODIs.
Table of Contents
Let’s take a look at the five Pacers with ruined careers owing to injury:
5. Ashish Nehra
Nehra, who has later had a decorated career for India, holds some of the most unique records, as 12 injuries were sustained in his career. As a result of his injuries, the bowler who started his career long back under Ganguly’s leadership in the early 2000s could only feature in 164 matches in his long-spanning 18-year career. But owing to injuries, his career was cut immensely short.
4. Zaheer Khan
The greatest among Indian pacers has had the most impactful career for the Men in Blue, with the World Cup and the T20 World Cup all under his belt. Despite all the glory in his career, he could have been the best; however, his pace considerably reduced over the years.
3. Irfan Pathan
Once considered the next big name in Indian cricket, especially from the all-rounder point of view, Irfan Pathan started his career in the best way possible and served as one of India’s best beginners with the new ball, as he could swing the ball both ways. Owing to several injuries and an excessive workload, he evolved as an all-format all-rounder, ending his career with 173 matches.
2. Munaf Patel
Before making his debut for India, Patel earned immense fame in domestic cricket and played half a decade of cricket in both the Indian team and the IPL.
Splurging from 2006, he won the Cricket World Cup in 2011, where he picked several vital wickets for India; however, one of India’s most brutal pacers saw injuries dimming his talent as he ended up being a mere medium pacer and later brought a quick end to his career.
1. Mohammed Shami
The legendary Indian speedster is one of the most consistent wicket-takers in Indian cricket, as he is known for his sheer pace and reverse-swinging ability and has been coined as unplayable from time to time.
Mohammed Shami is known to be the bowler fastest to pick 50 wickets in the history of the World Cup, as he also has the most wickets for India in the history of the Cricket World Cup. Shami finished the 2023 World Cup as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, though he could not win the WC for India.
The 34-year-old has played 188 career matches for India across the three formats; he went on to pick 448 wickets for India, though his decade-long career would seem very fascinating if eminent injuries did not evade him from the cricket ground.
ALSO READ: Three teams with the most titles in ICC Champions Trophy history
