For years, Indian cricket was synonymous with spin. The narrative revolved around turning tracks at home and the wizardry of finger and wrist spinners bamboozling opposition batsmen. However, in the last decade, a seismic shift has occurred. India now boasts a formidable pace battery, capable of challenging the best in the world across all conditions. Yet, amidst the thunder and lightning of express pace and incisive swing, there’s a growing recognition that India’s pace attack also desperately needs its “quiet men” – the unassuming, disciplined bowlers who provide control, consistency, and the crucial defensive edge.
The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have rightly earned their stripes as spearheads, their wicket-taking abilities often turning the tide of a match. Mohammed Siraj, with his fiery spells and relentless aggression, adds another dimension. These are the headline-grabbers, the ones who deliver the knockout blows. But Test cricket, especially, is a game of attrition, and it’s here that the value of the quieter, workhorse pacers becomes undeniable.
Recent results, particularly in challenging overseas conditions, have highlighted this very need. While the frontline quicks might pick up wickets in bursts, the inability of the supporting bowlers to stem the flow of runs, maintain pressure, and bowl economical spells has often been a costly affair. We’ve seen instances where opposition batsmen, once the initial burst from Bumrah or Shami subsides, find it easier to score, turning a chase from a mountain into a manageable hill.
Think back to the 1983 World Cup triumph. While Kapil Dev was the charismatic leader, the unsung heroes like Roger Binny and Madan Lal provided crucial support, bowling with unerring accuracy and making the most of the conditions. They might not have been express pace merchants, but their ability to land the ball on a consistent length and line, building pressure and inducing mistakes, was invaluable. Similarly, in the past, bowlers like Venkatesh Prasad, with his subtle variations and disciplined lines, often played the role of the quiet achiever, complementing the more attacking options.
The role of these “quiet men” is multi-faceted:
- Building Pressure: Even when wickets aren’t falling, tight, economical overs from one end allow the more attacking bowler to operate with greater freedom and increases the chances of breakthroughs.
- Controlling the Scoring Rate: On flat pitches or when the ball isn’t doing much, a bowler who can consistently hit good lengths and restrict boundaries becomes invaluable in preventing runaway scores.
- Allowing for Rotational Spells: Having bowlers who can reliably hold an end means the main strike bowlers can be rested and brought back for short, impactful spells, maximizing their effectiveness.
- Exploiting Wear and Tear: A disciplined pacer can also accelerate the wear and tear on a pitch, creating rough patches for spinners to exploit or making the old ball reverse-swing more effectively.
Developing such pacers requires a shift in mindset. While raw pace and wicket-taking ability are naturally exciting, equal emphasis must be placed on honing control, consistency, and the ability to bowl long, disciplined spells. This involves meticulous planning, specific training regimes, and opportunities in domestic cricket for players to develop these often-overlooked attributes.
The rise of Indian pace bowling is a testament to years of hard work and investment. To truly elevate their standing as the world’s best, India must now ensure that their pace attack is not just about raw firepower, but also about the subtle art of control, delivered by its quiet, consistent, and utterly indispensable men. It’s in these unsung heroes that the true strength and resilience of India’s fast bowling future will lie.
