Munaf Patel and Jasprit Bumrah (Photo: BCCI and X/Screengrab)
Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in world cricket today, with his influence and stature often placing him alongside icons like Virat Kohli in terms of influence. However, former India bowler and current Delhi Capitals bowling coach, Munaf Patel, provided a frank and thought-provoking view on Bumrah’s popularity and the wider fast bowling ecosystem in India.Speaking on TOI Sports’ Bombay Exchange Podcast, Munaf acknowledged Bumrah’s star status but pointed out that the level of mass appeal still differs when compared to a batsman like Kohli.
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”How will that happen sir? Look at Virat Kohli’s popularity and Bumrah’s popularity. Manaf Patel said: There is a difference. He added: “Bumrah is a star without a doubt, but there is still a difference when you compare his popularity to someone like Virat Kohli.” The conversation soon turned from individual stardom to a deeper issue, the development of India’s fast bowlers. Munaf highlighted the systemic challenge, stressing that while India has started producing bowlers with higher speeds, there is still a gap in awareness, training and proper guidance at the grassroots level.He made a startling observation about speed being the primary currency in modern cricket.“If you ask me to find bowlers who can bowl at 125kmph, I can bring in a lot of them.
“But if you ask about bowlers who can hit 140+ consistently, they are very rare,” he explained. “The truth is, if you bowl 140+, you won’t go unnoticed. “Almost no chance.”Munaf went on to underscore what he believes is a paradox in Indian cricket, that despite the clear demand for true speed, many aspiring fast bowlers are not effectively groomed to reach those speeds.“It’s actually the easiest route right now,” he said. “If you are a fast bowler who can bat 135 to 140+, you can get into the Indian team quickly. But if you bowl at 125, no matter how much you swing the ball, you may not even get selected,” he said.
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Auctions.”He also questioned whether enough is being done at institutional levels to scientifically nurture fast bowlers. Referring to facilities like the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Munaf emphasized the need for structured training involving coaches, trainers and physiotherapists to help bowlers increase speed safely and effectively.“You need to understand how to build that pace, strength, technique and workload management. Who is teaching that? That’s where the focus should be,” he added.Munaf’s comments reflect a broader conversation in Indian cricket, one that balances the celebration of world-class talents like Bumrah with the urgent need to build a sustainable pipeline of quality fast bowlers for the future.