Virat Kohli Opens Up On What Separates India's Fast Bowling Unit From The Rest

A dejected Bangladesh captain and coach had no choice but to applaud their counterparts’ pace attack which left them tottering in both the Test matches. After destroying South Africa, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami went on to clean up Bangladesh in a convincing fashion. Indian captain Virat Kohli commended the pace trio for their work ethics and the discipline which they have imbibed in them for years that is paying off now.

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The Men in Blues started their home season by decimating South Africa in the three-match series, including claiming an innings victory in the last two Tests. They continue their dominance even against Bangladesh. The pace trio of Ishant, Shami, and Umesh shared 14 wickets between them in the first Test in Indore. Their formidability reached yet another level as they never let the visitors’ batsmen settle throughout the second Test.

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Virat Kohli stated that when the fast bowlers face difficulty picking wickets in unfriendly conditions, they try to change their mindset by encouraging them. According to him, the change in mentality has been decisive in their commanding display even on lifeless pitches. The skipper specifically mentioned the track in Sydney earlier this year where India bundled out Australia for 300 and enforced a follow-on.

“When the fast bowlers don’t get wickets on difficult conditions, my and Ravi (Shastri) bhai’s job is to put in small reminders as to why they have started playing this game, you can’t let loose when the situation is not in favour. I think that change of mindset has helped them pick up wickets on pitches that the others feel are dead and not just in India but also in Australia in that Sydney Test, our fast bowlers were pretty effective and lethal,” the 31-year old said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Virat Kohli heaps praises on the bowlers’ fitness levels:

The skipper complimented his fast bowlers by saying that their vast experience has laid the foundation for their success. He went on to say that they understand what is expected out of them and they take total charge of their training plan and their fitness. On the third day of the second Test in Kolkata, it only took only 8.4 overs to bag the remaining three wickets (Mahmudullah didn’t come out to bat due to injury) and complete their fourth consecutive innings victory.

“Everything happens with time. They have gained more experience and now they are bowling well together. Now they take ownership of their training, their fitness and everything. Shami was already in the system when I became captain, Ishant had played 4-5 years of Test cricket, Bhuvi was in the system, Umesh also came into Test cricket in 2012, Bumrah is a late addition but he has blend in very well too,” Kohli added.

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque mentioned that Indian pacers ability to pick up wickets even on decks that are unfavourable for fast bowlers separates them from the rest of the fast bowling unit. It is that skillset which gives them the cutting edge against any opposition. The tourists got clean sweeped in the series by 2-0.

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“I think it’s the skill set. All three of them (Ishant, Shami and Umesh) have a lot of skill and that’s why India have one of the best fast bowling unit in the world,” said Mominul Haque as quoted by Hindustan Times.

It was the second time in a couple of years when Indian pacers entirely dominated the wickets column in a Test. Ishant Sharma took nine wickets in the entire match while Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav accounted for two and eight scalps respectively.