Five Best Fast Bowlers in Test format in Indian Cricket history

India is not known for producing world class fast bowler, however, over the years a couple of good seamers graced the field for the Indian team in the longer format of the game.

The Indian bowling lineup has been, in the past, known for their dominance in the spin department. Even though the team now has an acclaimed quartet of fast bowlers in all three formats, the same can not be said about the history of quickies from India.

With England tour in sight, India will want all their seamers to be fully fit. Virat Kohli & Co will play a five-match Test series after the white-ball series.

Despite all odds, India at times have given the pleasure to cherish few fast bowlers over the years.

However, there have been a few who have managed to make a mark for themselves in the past.

Let us take a look at the five best fast bowlers in the Test history of Indian cricket:

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev is arguably the best ever seamer to grace the cricketing field for India. Dev single-handedly led the Indian attack at the time when India was not known for producing fast bowlers, and he left a legacy of his own.

Kapil had a test career that lasted longer than any other Indian fast bowler as he represented India in 131 matches between 1978 and 1994. In that period, he accounted for 434 wickets at a good average of 29.64.

Between 1994 and 2001, he was the world record holder of most wickets by a bowler in test cricket. To compliment that, he had an economy of only 2.78 and took 23 five-fors in his career.

Zaheer Khan

Javagal Srinath gave rise to a new era of Indian fast bowling as Zaheer Khan came up the ranks and stayed there for the better part of the next decade. Zaheer was the first among the left-arm fast bowlers who made debut for India during the 2000s and was also the most successful.

With his ability to swing the ball both ways, Zaheer got better with his experience. In the 14 years between 2000 and 2014, Zaheer Khan played 92 test matches for the Indian team, which is more than any other pure fast bowler.

Zaheer had 311 wickets to his name at an average of 32.94 and an economy of 3.27. One of India’s biggest match winners, he also has eleven 5-wicket haul to his name and has taken 10 wickets in a match one time.

Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath was the first Indian fast bowler to touch the 150 kmph mark. Srinath made both ODI and Test format, spearheading the Indian attack for more than 10 years.

Between 1991 and 2002, Javagal Srinath played 67 test matches for the Indian cricket team, which was more than any other Indian fast bowler.

In the 121 innings, Srinath picked 236 opposition batsmen with his control over the line and length. He also had an impressive average of 30.49 and economy of 2.85. He was the only fast bowler at that period in the Indian team which made him more special.

Ishant Sharma

The tall and lanky pacer from Delhi has fought all the odds to make a name for himself at the international arena.

Even since he made his debut in 2007 at the age of 18, Ishant Sharma has been a permanent fixture of the Indian team in the longest format and presently is the senior most fast-bowler in the team.

Ishant, in his career ranging over 11 years, has played 82 test matches for India bagging 238 wickets. He also has seven 5-wicket hauls and has taken 10 wickets in a match once. Team India will want a superlative effort from him in the upcoming tour to England.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami makes into the list as he gave nightmares to batsmen at his peak. Although there was a confusion with Bhuvneshwar Kumar but Shami made it on the basis of more wickets.

Shami left a long-lasting impression taking 9 wickets in his debut match against Windies in 2013. Since then, Shami has been part of the Indian team regularly and has featured in 30 test matches so far.

In the 58 innings of those matches, Shami has 110 wickets to his name including three 5-wicket hauls. His strike rate of 51.2 and an average of 28.9 are among the best among the Indian bowlers.

However, Shami recently has lost his place in the team owing to fitness issues.

Also Read: Top Five Unique Records Held by Indian Bowlers in Test Cricket