Javagal Srinath entered into the international arena in 1991 under the captaincy of Mohammed Azharuddin and went on to lead the Indian pace attack for nearly a decade – the era when India’s bowling attack was dominated by the spinners after the retirement of legendary Kapil Dev.
In the present, India’s fast bowling battery is dominating across formats now, but during Srinath's career, the Indian cricket team was too dependent on the spinners.
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Recently, former fast-bowler has recalled the time when India used to play only one fast bowler in the playing XI and even then, he had to ask the captain to allow him to bowl in order to satisfy himself.
However, Srinath insisted he is not complaining about those things, but said the Indian wickets were tailor-made for the spinners in the initial days of his career.
Srinath told SportsKeeda: “I'm not complaining, but that's the way the situation was. In India, there were times when we used to play just one fast bowler. Sometimes we played just for the sake of playing a fast bowler. Wickets were absolute rank turners in the initial part of my career.”
The ICC match referee further explained, “You need to be a permanent part of the team and to be getting wickets all the time. Three spinners used to do 80 or 90 percent of the bowling, I would sometimes feel awkward like ‘what is my role here'.
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I used to go and ask the captain to hand me the ball, at least let me be satisfied with my inclusion for XI. That was the case. Indian conditions suit spinners better but at the same time, it puts you in a faster thinking mode. So, the reverse swing came handy but I never lost hope. I understand that winning is more important.”
However, the things have now changed in the present era with the likes of Japrit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma are regulars in India’s line-up.
Srinath signed off by saying, “Spinners used to rule the roost those days; fast bowlers had little role to play but things have changed now. Today you have three fast bowlers operating before the spinners come on. Just like the traditional way of fetching wickets.”
(With SportsKeeda Inputs)
