Ravi Shastri impressed with India’s pace bowling stock

04/24/2018

Ravi Shastri has admitted that the current Indian pace attack and the bench strength is one of the best that India has ever seen and asserted that it augurs well for them. Michael Clarke also echoed Shastri’s opinions and believes that India are on the verge of becoming the best team in the world.

The current Indian cricket team is on a roll and has been for well over a year now. After dominating at home in the 2016/17 season, they whitewashed Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in all three formats before going down to South Africa in a closely-fought Test series (1-2). However, they managed to defeat the Proteas in the ODI and T20 series capping off an excellent tour to the Rainbow Nation.

One of the reasons for India’s excellent performance has been the rise of the fast bowlers. India has a rich crop of fast bowlers coming through and they have been performing really well. They not only have a the pacers from the first XI who are doing well, but also have a strong bench strength. Ravi Shastri, who was at the Mumbai launch of Boria Majumdar’s book, 'Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians', felt that this current Indian pace attack is the one of the best in Indian cricket history.

“I would say so without a shadow of doubt. More importantly, we've the bench strength now. We have got another two-three in the wings. The more I see the IPL, you can see already there are already two-three other guys there who are knocking on the doors which augurs well for Indian cricket. When there is competition, it makes even your main bowlers work even that harder to stay fit and if you don't, there will be somebody else,” Ravi Shastri was quoted saying when asked whether this is one of India’s finest pace attacks.

The IPL has played a crucial role in this development of the Indian players, especially the fast bowlers. It has provided the young Indian players and the fringe players an opportunity to compete and play with the best players in the world. Michael Clarke, who was also present at the event, felt that India is certainly on the verge of becoming a world beater, not for one or two years but for the next 5-10 years.

“Look at the quick's that you see around the IPL. The strength there is so strong, and I believe that travelling around the world you do unbelievable amount of work in India as a fast bowler but come England, Australia…. in those conditions, India are such a threat to being the best team in the world. And not for one year, but for the next 5-10 years because their bench strength is so strong,” Clarke said, who is currently doing commentary in the IPL..

India have been very dominant in ODI cricket. The last time they lost a bilateral ODI series was back in January 2016 against Australia in Australia. Since then they have won nine consecutive bilateral ODI series and thus, Clarke was mighty impressed by the way the ‘Men in Blue’ have played the 50-over format.

“They're a brilliant team, particularly in the ODI format, and there's no doubt about it. Just sitting here and listening to their attitude (referring to Rohit Sharma), they're halfway there. Sport is all about attitude and having confidence in your own ability and your team's ability. You struggle when there is self-doubt. Big tournaments are won on your self-confidence and when you play with freedom,” the former Australian skipper added.

India’s tour to Australia later this year (in December) is one of the most-awaited series’. However, Australia will be missing the services of key players, Steve Smith and David Warner and hence Clarke feels Australia will miss them but it promises to be a mouth-watering series.

“I think if India and Australia have their players fully fit, it will end up being an unbelievable series. There's no doubt that Losing Smith, Warner and Bancroft is going to hurt Australia. But I would hate to see that if India do have success in Australia for it to be taken away due to the absence of the three players. I don't think that is fair to the Indian team. India are a great team and they have had success individually in terms of players who are going to be on that tour. They know the conditions there really well,” Clarke said.

But before the tour down under, India travel to England where they have fared quite poorly in the last two Test series’ (they lost 4-0 in 2011 and 3-1 in 2014). However, the former Aussie skipper felt India have a great chance to beat the English in their own background.

“I certainly think that they are in for a great chance to win in England as well. If India can beat England in England, they go to Australia with so much confidence, that it is going to be really hard to beat them at home. Australia's under pressure at the moment with everything that has happened and to try and work out what their team is going to be. They need to find a way and start to rebuild really quickly because it is a massive series considering we have never lost to India in Australia,” the 37-year-old said.

The next 8-10 months are going to be filled with challenges for the Indian team as they embark difficult tours to England and Australia, but they will take confidence from the recent outings in South Africa.

Ravi Shastri impressed with India’s pace bowling stock

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