Shoaib Akhtar: “They are gradually improving and there is a long way to go before India can call itself a good fast bowling nation”
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Legendary Pakistan seamer Shoaib Akhtar believes that there is a bright future when it comes to India’s pace attack.
While Akhtar admitted that India are still a long way from having an excellent pace line-up, he added that their fast bowlers have shown encouraging signs throughout the ongoing tour of South Africa.
“Is it one of the best pace attacks India have ever had? I would not say that,” he told PTI as quoted by NDTV. “I would say they are gradually improving and there is a long way to go before India can call itself a good fast bowling nation.
“Five years ago, I had thought that Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami will be the ones to lead India’s pace department on overseas tours.
“But that did not happen with Aaron having fitness issues, Yadav being good in patches and erratic other times, like Wahab Riaz.
“India have always been known for their batting but nowadays you are seeing an emergence of fast bowlers too but still I would say a long way to go.”
India have already lost the Test series against the Proteas as they trail 2-0 heading into the third and final Test in Johannesburg on January 24.
While many expected India to struggle in South Africa due to the different conditions, Akhtar had a much different view.
“I saw the first two Tests in bits and pieces,” he said. “It would be wrong to say that it (India’s loss) was expected. It is still one of the best Test teams.
“Yes, they did not play well. The batsmen should have applied themselves better. It is, maybe, a result of a bad combination. Not taking wickets at the right time, not scoring enough runs.
“Most of the guys in the team are right up there. They need to go back to the drawing board. I am quite impressed with (Hardik) Pandya as well. It is just the batsmen who did not apply themselves on pitches that were not so tough to bat on.”
Akhtar, however, did agree that he was shocked by India’s decision to drop batsman Ajinkya Rahane for the first two Tests.
Rohit Sharma has taken Rahane’s spot for both matches, but has failed to live up to expectations as he has only scored 78 runs at an average of 19.50.
“There is a lot of debate on Rohit. We all know he is a great talent but in the world we are living, you have to perform. He is very talented, I see shades of Inzamam-ul Haq in him,” Akhtar said. “Unfortunately, he has not delivered on what was expected of him. And not having Ajinkya Rahane was shocking because he is your most technically correct batsman.”
Akhtar also pointed out that India’s loss in South Africa “could be the best thing that could happen to them” as it could serve as a wake-up call ahead of their tours of England and Australia later this year.
“They have a chance to turn it all around (in England and Australia later this year),” he said. “I would look at it like that. To lose a series like that could be the best thing that could happen to them.
“Before England, they have to utilise the time in the right manner, get the practice right. A lot of improvement is required in batting. England is a good team at home but you cannot write off India.”