'Our pacers are right at the top, I won't even count them among top 3' - Virat Kohli on Indian pacers

Since Virat Kohli took over the leadership in Test cricket, Indian pacers have taken 420 wickets at an average of 26.79, accounting for 47.1 percent of the wickets. In the recently concluded Test series against South Africa, the seamers bamboozled the Protea batsmen with pace, reverse-swing but most-importantly with their sustained hostility, prompting the likes of Brian Lara to compare them with the celebrated West Indies quartet of the 1980s.

So, when Virat Kohli was asked whether his fast bowling-unit in the world was among the top-3 in the world, Kohli was quick to respond that they are not in the top-3 but right at the top.

“Well, if you ask, we are right at the top. I won’t even count ourselves among the top 3, these guys deserve it. When we started off, that was the conversation. When I took over as captain, I really wanted to see our fast bowlers dominate world cricket. Spin was never an issue, batting was never an issue,” he told reporters before the first Test against Bangladesh.

‘They are not done yet’ – Virat Kohli on fast bowlers

After Zaheer Khan had retired from international cricket, India struggled with their fast bowling in their overseas cycle of 2013-15, something that Kohli wanted to eradicate when he took over the reins. And, the changes have been quite apparent. In the recent overseas cycle, Indian pacers averaged 23.49 in South Africa, 25 in Australia and 29.81 in England, and Kohli feels the best part is that the bowlers are still not done yet.

“After Zak (Zaheer Khan) and all these stalwarts went away, we were thinking how can we get back to the top and have the ability and the firepower to pick up 20 wickets. Just see the way they have bowled. It’s their belief that stands out. Any kind of pitch, any kind of opposition. They believe they can get more out of any pitch than the opposition. That belief matters a lot. I couldn’t be more happy for them,” Kohli added. 

“The best thing is they are still not done yet. They are getting hungrier every time they go out. And they love bowling together. I think that’s their biggest strength. The trust, the camaraderie and the belief they have is pushing this team forward.”

Indian fast bowlers will once again be in the spotlight when they take on Bangladesh in the two-match Test series starting November 14th.

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