Irfan Pathan has challenged foreign teams to improve their spin bowling rather than complain about rank-turners while visiting India for a Test series.
Due to India’s supremacy at home, there has been a lot of uproar over the pitches recently.
Pathan, on the other hand, urged that the traveling teams not blame their poor performances on the weather.
The cricketer-turned-commentator made his remarks after fast bowlers ran riot on Day 1 of
the upcoming Cape Town Test between India and South Africa on Wednesday, January 3.
Batters struggled to get going on the surface, resulting in 23 wickets falling on the first day alone.
Pathan wrote on the microblogging network X, previously Twitter:
Wickets dropped like nine pins in the opening session of Day 1 of India’s second Test against South Africa. The Proteas won the coin toss and chose to bat first.
The decision, however, backfired as they were skittled out for 55, the lowest-ever Test total against India.
The Men in Blue also had a humiliating batting collapse, being bowled out for 153 after losing their last six wickets for 0 runs.
Mohammed Siraj took six wickets in the first innings, but Virat Kohli batted brilliantly, hitting 46 runs off 59 balls.
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Irfan Pathan believes that India has to develop a strong fast-bowling team
India’s hopes of winning their first Test series on South African soil were dashed as they were defeated by an innings and 32 runs in the opening Test of the two-match series.
At Centurion, India scored 245 and 131 in the first and second innings, respectively, while the Proteas scored an impressive 408 runs.
Irfan Pathan, pointing out India’s lack of depth in the fast bowling unit, advised that the team management discover and develop fresh pacers.
In an interview with Star Sports, he stated:
India must develop a strong fast-bowling unit. Take a look at what happened in South Africa. The backups weren’t just waiting.
I won’t say they’re bad, but because they weren’t ready, you could feel Shami’s absence.
So, if something happens to Bumrah, who has been injured as a result of his bowling motion, we won’t be able to locate another bowler of his calibre.
So, either via talent searches or the Ranji Trophy, India must prepare a pool of 7-8 fast bowlers.
The presence of Mohammed Shami was noticed in the first Test, as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah did not receive adequate help from the rest of the bowlers.
Shami, who had a dominant season last year, was ruled out due to an ankle issue.
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