Indian domestic cricket is often criticised for not being able to produce quality fast bowlers unlike neighbouring country Pakistan who have produced several fast bowlers in the past.
Indian Under-19 bowlers Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Ishan Porel took social media by storm as their bowling speeds clocked at above 145 kmph in the U-19 Wolrd Cup. Mavi and Nagarkoti impressed not just with their serious pace but by bowling good line and lengths consistently. Porel had to leave the field as he pulled a hamstring on his follow through.
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is currently commentating in Under-19 World Cup, also knows the importance of good fast bowlers which was evident from his recent tweet where he tagged former Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and current Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Here’s Ganguly’s tweet after witnessing some world-class fast bowling of the teenagers –
@imVkohli @vikrantgupta73 @BoriaMajumdar @VVSLaxman281 @sachin_rt all 3 under 19 quicks prospect for india ..by far the best in the tournament
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) January 14, 2018
Another tweet from Ganguly –
@imVkohli @VVSLaxman281 @BCCI keep an eye on two under 19quicks ..mavi and nagarkotti ..bowling at 145 in newzealand ..brilliant ..
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) January 14, 2018
Virender Sehwag lauded the fast bowlers as well –
This was serious pace from our boys. Solid beginning beating the Aussies by 100 runs. May the hunger continue and we carry the momentum. #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/zL75RDxjN3
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 14, 2018
Here’s how Twitterati reacted to Ganguly’s tweet, including Indian sports journalist Boria Majumdar –
And Nagarkoti looks terrific on the field. Saved a few already. Sad for Ishan Porel.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 14, 2018
Absolutely.. dada you are the champ in finding the talent
— siva perubotla (@sivaperubotla) January 14, 2018
Impressive kamlesh nagarkoti, good display of fast bowling
— Vishwa Mohan Singh (@mohan_vishwa) January 14, 2018
Nagarkoti should be given national cap soon
— Santan Gupta (@imsantangupta) January 14, 2018
In todays match #Nagarkoti bowled 149.4 KM/hr what a terrific bowler.
Future of indian cricket team.#INDvAUS #under19worldcup— Mohammad Danish (@mdanish9807) January 14, 2018
Old habits don’t die hard.. Encouraging youngsters #dada #U19CWC
— kranthi nagothu (@kranthinagothu) January 14, 2018
impressed with the pace of #Nagarkoti
bright future ahed.— Mohammad Danish (@mdanish9807) January 14, 2018
Nagarkoti is really impressive Dada.
He’s consistenly clocking in around 145 km/hr.
Absolutely one to watch out for in future.— HeiMyName’sRishabh (@Rishabhprakash4) January 14, 2018
He just clicked 149 over 36.5
— Shailendra Singh Jatt (@jatt_shailendra) January 14, 2018
If DADA says definitely something special is there. Guys u have bright future all the best
— Hemanth kumar (@gofida2hemanth) January 14, 2018
I pray that they dont become next irfaan pathan and munaf patel!
— Ashish Dixit (@ashishdixit3) January 14, 2018
True Dada…impressive pace and control. Refreshing to see abundance of quality Indian pacers these days.
— Kunal Bhatia (@KaybeeGooner) January 14, 2018
Dada Bhai if they fell in your eye then definitely they are having good future in international cricket.
— Abhishek Chowdary (@AbishekChoudary) January 14, 2018
Ian Bishop was all gaga over them too
— Soumitra Roy (@soumitra_roy) January 14, 2018
Dada ne in 2 Laundo ki twitter be baithe baithe carrier bana Di..
— Ray saheb (@sudeepkumar18) January 14, 2018
A captain never retires..
still looking for new talent..— Saurav Singh (@srvsingh003) January 14, 2018
Though India has produced fast bowlers in the past, their pace has not stayed with them for the major part of their career. One such example is Munaf Patel who bowled 150 kmph but could not bowl with consistent pace in the later stages of his career. Varun Aaron, Irfan Pathan and RP Singh too went through the same phase.
That’s why there is a need to nurture these talents. At present India have bowlers like Mohammad Siraj, Basil Thampi, T Natarajan, Jasprit Bumrah and others who can bowl fast. However, it is yet to be seen whether their pace lasts longer than usual.
They destroyed the Australian batting lineup. Nagarkoti uprooted the off-stump on a couple of occasions. Nagarkoti took three wickets including the wicket of Steve Waugh’s son Austin. He got the first breakthrough by getting the wicket of opener Max Bryant.
A massive win for India in Tauranga! Nagarkoti and Mavi trouble Australia who are dismissed for just 228 after Prithvi Shaw’s 94 sent India on their way to victory! #INDvAUS #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/0TeCkurBfO
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 14, 2018
Mavi took three wickets as well and Australia were bundled out for 228 with 43 balls to spare. Nagarkoti and Mavi ended the innings with bowling figures of 3 for 29 and 3 for 45 respectively.
ALSO READ: Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s serious pace will put Indian senior bowlers to shame! Twittersphere goes berserk
Here are a few clips of the Nagarkoti troubling English players with his fiery deliveries –
India won the match by a huge margin of 100 runs. India scored 328 runs in the first innings, riding high on half-centuries from Prithvi Shaw, Manoj Kalra and Shubham Gill.
