A formidable pace unit! India’s attack can shine in South Africa during the 2027 ODI World Cup, feels Tinu Yohannan

A formidable pace unit! India’s attack can shine in South Africa during the 2027 ODI World Cup, feels Tinu Yohannan originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• In an exclusive chat with Cricket News, former India fast bowler Tinu Yohannan spoke on how India have built themselves a formidable pace bowling unit.

• Yohannan talked up the bench strength of the bowling unit and picked out Gurnoor Brar as impressive.

• He did say that conditions in South Africa during the World Cup might not be as conducive to bowling as they are in New Zealand during the ongoing ODI series.

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India’s system and NCA have forged a formidable pace unit: Tinu Yohannan

It’s no secret that fast bowling has not always been India’s biggest strength. However, that perception has been changing in the last decade or so with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami leading the charge. 

Though Shami, 36, is currently retired from Tests and doesn’t seem to be in India’s plans, it hasn’t affected India’s pace attack, as per Tinu Yohannan. 

In an exclusive chat with Cricket News, the former India fast bowler, who earned 3 Test and 3 ODI caps between 2001 and 2002, was delighted with how India’s pace attack is shaping up ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. 

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“I think there is a good group of fast bowlers that’s come up from the last two years. If you notice, apart from Bumrah and Shami. Bumrah has not been available throughout and Shami (is) almost taking his retirement, but still there’s a good battery of fast bowlers in our disposal through these two years. We have never been short of fast bowlers,” he said. 

The 47-year-old is also working with the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai – an institution that has produced many fast bowlers who represented India. Naturally, he is pleased with the way the BCCI system and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) have groomed this bunch of fast bowlers. 

“It’s a good sign, and that’s credit to the Indian system, especially the NCA who’s been bringing up a lot of, you know, grooming the right talents through the system. So right now I think whoever is playing in New Zealand looks exciting,” Yohannan added. 

India have around 6 quality fast bowlers apart from Bumrah: Yohannan

India’s pace attack has been on fire in the first two ODIs against New Zealand, with Gurnoor Brar standing out with seven wickets in two games. 

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Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj have done well too, picking four wickets each while Aquib Nabi scalped two. In both games, New Zealand were bowled out for less than 200 (185 and 134). 

Yohannan, who is also the head coach of Lumbini Lions in the Nepal Premier League, picked out Brar as very impressive and highlighted the pace and bounce he was extracting in New Zealand in the ongoing ODI series. 

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“Definitely Gurnoor Brar is standing out. With his extra pace and bounce that he’s getting off those wickets. It’s the New Zealand conditions too which are friendly for fast bowlers, and the wicket’s also helping a bit there. Unlike the T20 wickets that we saw, which were high scoring, the ODI wickets somehow are more alive for fast bowlers,” opined the former Kerala bowler. 

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“So, Aquib Nabi and Anshul (Kamboj) also is getting some kind of assistance off the wicket. So they’re looking sharp and picking wickets and they’re getting rewards for their discipline too,” he said. 

Yohannan went on to touch upon India’s bench strength as well. 

“Now Mayank Yadav is sitting in the bench (in T20Is). Then we have Prasidh (Krishna) there and Mohammed Siraj. Harshit Rana if he’s fit, he’ll come back. Of course, Arshdeep is there so you know you have around 6 quality fast bowlers and then Bumrah is there,” stated Yohannan.

India’s priority should be to keep their group of impressive fast bowlers fit and firing till the World Cup, says Yohannan. While lavishing praise on India’s bowlers, he also said work needs to be done on bowling in different phases of an ODI.

“The bench is strong and we are a very formidable unit when it comes to fast bowling, and especially in South African conditions,” he quipped.

“I think that’s some one area that all teams will be looking to, you know, be at their best and keep their bowlers fit. It’s going to be the priority I think and also improving on their skills in all phases,” he added. 

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2027 World Cup conditions might not be as bowler-friendly as New Zealand

Yohannan, who famously took his first Test wicket in his very first over against England in 2001, feels the conditions in South Africa might not be as extreme as the ones currently on display in New Zealand. However, keeping trust with the current pack will help them adjust and deliver.

“Now, World Cup being in South Africa, you can expect some kind (of assistance to bowlers). Not maybe as much life as what you see in New Zealand, but some kind of assistance for fast bowlers, at least bounce wise. So I think this (attack) will be a good bunch to look at for the next one year,” he reasoned.

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MORE: NZ conditions ‘a lot more similar’ to 2027 World Cup, says Shubman Gill

How experienced are India’s fast bowlers?

The current Indian fast bowling attack have looked terrific in helpful conditions. However, they have been found wanting on flat decks, as evidenced at home against the West Indies where they leaked runs galore. 

The absence of experience could be a factor, given that apart from Bumrah and Siraj, none of the bowlers have played a lot of ODIs. 

MORE:India’s complete World Cup 2027 schedule: All matches, dates, venues and timings

While the Indian pace attack might not be huge on experience in ODIs, the think tank must give them valuable playing time in varying conditions to prepare them for the 2027 ODI World Cup, as Yohannan feels.

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