Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the best bowlers for India. Bumrah has played a key role in how the opposition sees the Indian pace bowling attack. He is especially known for his slingy bowling action, his accurate yorkers and lethal bouncers make him one of India’s stand-out pace bowlers.
With Jasprit Bumrah missing, Mohammed Siraj has stepped up as India’s pace spearhead against England. In the second Test at Edgbaston, he led the attack with a fiery spell, claiming 6 for 70 and dismantling key batters like Root and Stokes. His intensity never dropped, and he showed leadership both with the ball and on the field. Notably, Siraj’s Test average improves when Bumrah is absent, proving he thrives under pressure and can be the strike bowler India needs.
Jasprit Bumrah has been the flagbearer of the Indian pace bowling since making his debut. He took over the reins from the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ashok Dinda and Umesh Yadav. Bumrah made his India debut in 2018 and has played 46 Test matches as of writing this. He has taken 210 wickets in those matches at an economy rate of 2.77.
The pace bowler from Gujarat has been playing for Team India for a long-time. In Test cricket, Jasprit Bumrah has been undoubtedly India’s best pace bowler. But, what if Jasprit Bumrah is not available for selection for Team India, either due to injury, rest or when he is at the brink of his career? Does Team India have anyone to take over Bumrah’s duty ? Will Team India’s pace bowling be as dominant as it is now?
Jasprit Bumrah’s Test cricket records
Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s pace sensation not only in India but also outside home. With performances that rival the best Test bowler in the world right now, he has 47 Test wickets in 23 innings in India, bowling 278.5 overs and averaging 17.19 with an economy rate of 2.89.
| BALLS | 8892 |
| MAIDENS | 353 |
| RUNS CONCEDED | 4117 |
| WICKETS | 210 |
| AVERAGE | 19.60 |
| 5 WICKETS IN INNINGS | 14 |
| ECONOMY RATE | 2.78 |
| STRIKE RATE | 42.34 |
If we look at his numbers outside India, he has been hugely dominant in Australia, England, and South Africa, the three hubs of pace bowling where Team India has faced several beatings.
In Australia, Jasprit has 64 wickets in 23 innings with an average of 17.15 and an economy rate of 2.57. He has also accumulated 42 and 38 wickets, respectively, in England and South Africa. So the numbers speak for themselves. Jasprit Bumrah has been long spearheading the pace bowling attack for Team India.
| COUNTRY | MATCHES | WICKETS |
|---|---|---|
| In Australia | 12 | 64 |
| In England | 10 | 42 |
| In South Africa | 8 | 38 |
| In New Zealand | 2 | 6 |
| In West Indies | 2 | 13 |
Can India Still Intimidate with Pace in Test Cricket without Jasprit Bumrah?
Now, coming to the main question, can India trouble the opponents with pace without the presence of Bumrah?
Well, India is not really known as a pace bowling producing factory like Australia, Pakistan, or England. Yet, there have been some world-class pacers who have graced the team for Team India and reached the status of greatness, like the aforementioned Kapil Dev, Srinath, Zaheer Khan or modern day examples like Mohammed Shami.
Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah formed quite a pair for Team India. Shami has played 64 Test matches since his debut in 2013 and has taken 229 wickets as of writing this. So it can also be said that before Jasprit Bumrah, there was Mohammed Shami. Which is a clear indication that they have managed to produce world-class pacers, it is just about giving the exposure.
The BCCI over the years has made significant investments in youth development. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has a big role in the development of Indian players, who later play for the India U19, and the best ones go on to play for the senior team. So, there is always a supply chain ready.
Who is the Best Indian Pacer Currently in the absence of Bumrah?
So the next question is, who is the best Indian pacer currently in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah? This is where some of the names like Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj pop up.
1. Mohammed Shami
The veteran Mohammed Shami is one of Team India’s best pace bowlers alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Shami made his India debut in Test format on 6 November 2013. Since then, he has played for the Indian team for over a decade.
He has been able to establish himself as a bowler who can change the course of the game for Team India, proving himself among the fastest bowlers in the world through 64 Test matches where he took 229 wickets at an economy rate of 3.30.
| MATCHES | 64 |
| WICKETS | 229 |
| ECONOMY RATE | 3.30 |
| AVERAGE | 27.7 |
2. Mohammed Siraj
Another player who can be a game-changer is right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has been brilliant alongside Bumrah, forming a lethal partnership. In the absence of Bumrah, Siraj is Team India’s leading pace bowler in Test cricket.
He made his Test debut for Team India in December 2020. He has played 37 Test matches as of writing this and has taken 102 wickets at an economy rate of 3.50. He is particularly outstanding with the new ball with his out-swings and has a lethal bouncer in his arsenal.
| MATCHES | 37 |
| WICKETS | 102 |
| ECONOMY RATE | 3.50 |
| AVERAGE | 31.8 |
3. Arshdeep Singh
Although Arshdeep Singh is yet to make his Test debut for Team India, he has been brilliant in domestic cricket. The left-arm pacer has 66 wickets in 21 first-class matches.
Just like Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep can bowl accurate yorkers and has a decent bouncer. He is also quite effective with the new ball swing, as he is able to turn both ways. In conditions like England and South Africa, he can be a real asset for Team India.
| MATCHES | 21 |
| WICKETS | 66 |
| ECONOMY RATE | 3.20 |
| AVERAGE | 30.4 |
You can also check out the list of top bowlers in the world, which features legendary bowlers from the past and their remarkable careers.
If No Bumrah, Then Who?
The growth of pacers in India has been greatly influenced by the Indian Premier League (IPL). Although the IPL has been criticized several times, it has definitely helped bring forth pacers like Umran Malik, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, and Vaibhav Arora.
India has quite a robust domestic system where there is a new pace bowler making an impact every season. The likes of Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Suraj Jaiswal, Vidwath Kaverrapa, Vyshak Vijaykumar, etc. So, there is no dearth of pace bowling talent in India; it is just about whether they can replicate their domestic performance in International cricket.
So the outcome to the big question, what after Jasprit Bumrah? While team India might struggle in the short term during the transition phase, long-term, there is IPL, NCA, and the heartbeat of Indian cricket, a densely populated Indian domestic circuit. It is just a matter of time until we find the successor to Jasprit Bumrah.
Leave a Comment