India’s pace attack on level with Wasim, Waqar & Akhtar: Pak great hails Bumrah & Co.

India’s pace attack on level with Wasim, Waqar & Akhtar: Pak great hails Bumrah & Co.

New Delhi: Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has lauded the Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian pace attack after India’s thumping 280-run victory against Bangladesh in the 1st Test between the two sides at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Basit made a colossal comparison, saying the current Indian pace unit is on level with the legendary Pakistan pace attack, which consisted of the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar.

Indian pacers played a key role in the hosts’ clinical victory as they wreaked havoc on the Bangladesh batters with the ball during their first innings. Bumrah, Akasah Deep and Mohammed Siraj ran riot as Bangladesh were skittled out for a paltry 149 runs, in reply to India’s first-innings total of 376 runs. Bumrah picked up a 4-wicket haul while Akash Deep and Siraj bagged two wickets apiece.

Highlighting the absence of senior pacer Mohammed Shami, Basit said India’s pace attack is equally dangerous as the legendary Pakistan pace attack under Wasim and Waqar. Shami is not part of India’s Test squad for the ongoing series against Bangladesh as he is yet to receive a green signal to make his comeback for India after recovering from an injury.

“The Indian bowling unit is so impactful that they are on level with pacers Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis. Right now, Mohammed Shami is not playing,” Basit said in a video on his YouTube channel.

While Bumrah has become India’s pace spearhead across formats and has been delivering consistently for the team, India have managed to develop a good bench of young fast bowlers, who are making rapid progress. The likes of Mukesh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan among others have become regulars in white-ball cricket while left-arm seamer Yash Dayal was handed his maiden Test call-up for the ongoing Bangladesh series.

The likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna have also done well in the domestic circuit. Mayank Yadav, another star born from the IPL, who turned heads with his raw pace, is currently on his way to full recovery and might be fast-tracked into the Indian team soon.

Mayank Yadav for Australia Test series?

Further praising the depth in India’s pace attack, Basit also praised Mayank Yadav and said he would like to see the young pacer in India’s squad for the Test series against Australia later this year. Mayank, who clocked 150kph consistently for his franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024, has been touted to become a future star of India.

“Mayank Yadav’s ball is very dangerous. His bouncer is accurate. I wish to see him play a Test match in Australia,” said Basit.

Mayank, who stole the limelight with his pace and accuracy, could only play 4 matches for LSG before being sidelined due to a side strain. The 22-year-old picked up 7 wickets in 4 matches and might get retained by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction considering his rare talent and skills.

 

 Pakistan great heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian pace attack as he compared it to the legendary Pakistan pace unit comprising of the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.  Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today