Ahead of the three-match Test series against South Africa, former pacer Zaheer Khan weighed in on India’s fast bowling department.
According to Zaheer, the pace battery is fully capable of picking up all 20 wickets in a Test match.
For the South Africa series, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami have returned to the side after a much-needed break and the visitors also have Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Shardul Thakur in their ranks as pace bowling options.
"They are certainly good enough to take 20 wickets in each Test. They have been performing consistently all over the world. It is a good, balanced attack. The best part is that we have enough variety within the fast-bowling pack," Zaheer told Hindustan Times.
"We have a tall bowler like Ishant Sharma to extract extra bounce from awkward lengths and someone like Mohammad Shami with his prominent seam position who can move the ball both ways off the deck. Then we have got Jasprit Bumrah, who is truly world class and has created problems for batters with pace and guile."
While Zaheer spoke highly of the second battery in Shardul, Umesh and Siraj, he believes a left-arm pacer would have made the attach more robust.
"We also have an excellent second battery in Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. On the whole, we have a well-rounded attack and there is no reason to think they won't get the desired success. Perhaps the only bowler missing is a left-arm quick, but I guess you can't do much about it. A left-armer does give you the advantage of a different angle, but unfortunately for India, the wait continues," he stated.
The much-awaited Test series between India and South Africa is due to get underway on December 26 in Centurion.
(Inputs from Hindustan Times)
