Unlike Pakistan, Indian cricket hasn't typically been known for churning out a lot of fast bowlers. The few who have emerged often lose their speed over time and fade from the scene. Take Munaf Patel, for instance; he burst onto the scene as a promising fast bowler, clocking speeds close to 150 km/h. Then there was VRV Singh, but he vanished almost as quickly as he appeared, while the other saw his speed drop to the late 120s and early 130s. And if we look at the last couple of years, Umran Malik was hailed as the next big fast bowler in Indian cricket, but after one standout season, he seems to have disappeared from the selectors' minds.

Honestly, aside from Javagal Srinath in the '90s and the pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, no Indian bowler has really managed to build a career by consistently bowling at high speeds. Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, and S Sreesanth all started strong but injuries and the desire for longevity in their careers led them to prioritize control over pace. That was until Bharat Arun's famous five turned things around significantly. Bumrah, Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav not only increased their speed but also their intensity, playing a key role in India's success abroad during the Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era.

One name that deserves more attention is Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He had one of the most impressive debuts for India compared to his contemporaries, and who could forget the sight of his incredible swing bowling that left Pakistan's batsmen in shambles back in late 2012 and early 2013?

Reflecting on his career, Bhuvneshwar shared, "It was around 2015-16 when I noticed a change. Before that, my average speed was between 130 and 132 km/h. After that, it jumped to 137-138 km/h. I added almost 8-10 km/h, but honestly, I have no idea how it happened. I never actively tried to increase my pace. People would suggest it, but I never focused on it. I always wanted to improve, but I didn’t know how. Everyone said it was simple: just train and hit the gym. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it." He shared these thoughts with Ranveer Allahabadia on his show, TRS Clips.

The Shankar Basu influence

Bhuvneshwar, like many Indian fast bowlers from the mid-2010s, credits former trainer Shankar Basu for transforming fitness in cricket. Basu, who served as India's strength and conditioning coach, has been praised by numerous Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, for his innovative methods that helped players achieve peak physical condition.

"Our trainer, Shankar Basu, who is now with RCB, introduced a training technique called power training. I started incorporating that into my routine. I also made some adjustments to my bowling style. It was a combination of all these factors. If you asked me to replicate it, I probably couldn't. It was really a mix of everything. Your body's maturity plays a role too. I was around 21-22 when I started playing, and by the time I hit 25, my body had developed. All these elements came together," Bhuvneshwar explained.

Read Also: KL Rahul Opens Up: From Consistent 50s as Opener to Embracing Finisher Role for Team India

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