Fast bowlers are an integral half of any Test taking part in XI. With out pacers, it’s nearly not possible to assert 20 wickets in a Test match, which is necessary to register a victory in red-ball cricket. Fast bowlers can typically dictate the momentum of a Test match by putting early within the contest.

In circumstances the place the ball strikes round or seams off the wicket, high-quality tempo bowlers can show to be deadly. Nice fast bowlers even have the flexibility to make the ball discuss and fox opposition batters with their talent irrespective of the character of the floor. Additional, some pacers take pleasure in the brand new crimson cherry, whereas there are a number of who’re extraordinarily deadly when the outdated ball presents reverse swing.

India is called a land of nice spinners. However the nation has additionally been blessed with a quantity of splendidly gifted fast bowlers over time. On this function, we rank India’s 5 greatest Test fast bowlers of all time.

#5 Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath, who’s now an skilled match referee, was the chief of India’s tempo assault within the Nineties. Srinath performed 67 Test matches, claiming 236 wickets at a median of 30.40, with 10 five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. Given his expertise, the Karnataka pacer ought to have picked up much more scalps. Accidents hampered his profession to some extent.

Srinath had a wonderful file in India, the place he claimed 108 wickets in 32 matches at a median of 26.61, with 5 five-fers. Quite surprisingly, he struggled in Australia and England, the place circumstances help fast bowling. Srinath averaged 50-plus from eight Assessments Down Underneath and almost 40 in three Assessments in England. In South Africa, although, he claimed three five-fers in eight Assessments.

#4 Mohammad Shami

Mohammad Shami, who’s at present out of motion from the red-ball format because of health points, options at No. 4 on the checklist of India’s nice Test fast bowlers. The appropriate-arm pacer has performed 64 Test matches and has claimed 229 wickets at a median of 27.71. He has six five-fers and 12 four-fers to his identify.

Shami is famend for his unbelievable seam place, which permits him to bowl some near-unplayable deliveries. He has been efficient in each residence and away circumstances. Of his six five-fers, two have are available Australia and two in South Africa. He famously claimed 5-28 in Johannesburg in January 2018 and 5-44 in Centurion within the Boxing Day Test of 2021.

#3 Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan is undoubtedly the best left-arm pacer to characterize India in Test cricket. He performed 92 matches and claimed 311 wickets at a median of 32.94, with 11 five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. Zaheer performed key roles in a quantity of Test triumphs for India, choosing up massive wickets at essential junctures.

(Bowling stats of some high Indian Test fast bowlers)

The previous left-arm pacer starred with 4-59 & 5-75 within the 2007 Nottingham Test in opposition to England, which India received by seven wickets. The guests went on to win the sequence 1-0, which marked their final Test sequence triumph in England. Zaheer additionally claimed eight scalps within the 2010 Mohali Test in opposition to Australia, which India received by one wicket. The pacer was particularly deadly with the outdated ball.

#2 Jasprit Bumrah

Present India tempo spearhead Jasprit Bumrah finds himself at No. 2 on the checklist of the nation’s greatest Test fast bowlers. Having made his debut in January 2018, Bumrah swiftly went on to ascertain himself as India’s No. 1 bowler. In 46 Test matches, he has claimed 210 scalps at a median of 19.60, with the help of 14 five-fers and 7 four-fers.

Extremely, of Bumrah’s 14 five-fers, 12 have are available away Assessments. In 33 away matches, the right-arm pacer has claimed 163 wickets at a median of 19.73. The 31-year-old has an distinctive file in SENA nations. He has 64 wickets from 12 matches in Australia, 42 from 10 video games in England and 38 from eight Assessments in South Africa. Bumrah has performed two Assessments in New Zealand, claiming six wickets.

#1 Kapil Dev

The legendary Kapil Dev undoubtedly deserves the mantle of India’s greatest Test fast bowler ever. His contribution to Indian cricket goes past simply numbers. At a time when fast bowling was not given a lot worth in India, the Haryana Hurricane got here in and altered the sport. The remaining is historical past. It will be honest to say that Kapil’s success impressed a era of Indian cricketers to take up fast bowling.

Regardless of retiring from worldwide cricket in 1994, Kapil stays India’s main Test wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers. He performed 131 Assessments and claimed 434 wickets at a median of 29.64, with 23 five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls. 5 of his five-wicket hauls got here in Australia, together with the enduring efficiency of 5-28 within the 1981 Melbourne Test, bowling with a hamstring damage.