Over the decades, we have seen several fast bowlers play for India. The likes of Irfan Pathan, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan among others intimidated the best of batters with their pace. There are quite a few quicks in the current Indian setup too. Check out the list of five fastest bowlers in India at present.
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Umran Malik
Jammu and Kashmir pace bowler Umran Malik is the fastest bowler in India right now. Since making his IPL debut in 2021, the pacer has crossed the 150 kmph mark quite a few times. In IPL 2022, Malik clocked 156 kmph, which still remains the fastest delivery bowled in the tournament. He also holds the record for the fastest delivery by an India bowler in T20Is – Malik bowled at a speed of 155 kmph during a T20I against Sri Lanka earlier this year. The 23-year-old has played eight ODIs and as many T20Is for India so far, from which he has 24 wickets combined.
Mohammed Shami
During the third Test between India and Australia in 2014 in Melbourne, Mohammad Shami bowled at a speed of 153.3 kmph, which is his fastest delivery to date. We’ve seen him breach the 150 kmph mark on a few other occasions as well.
Over the years, however, the pacer has reduced his bowling speed to become a more accurate bowler. He continues to remain one of the top bowlers both in international cricket and the IPL. Shami has played 63 Tests for India, from which he has 225 wickets. In ODIs, he has 162 wickets in 90 matches and in the shortest format, he has taken 24 wickets in 23 games.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has been out of action for a long while now due to an injury, but he continues to be one of the best pacers India has produced. During the first Test between India and Australia in the 2018 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah clocked 153.26kph and also ended the series as the joint highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets. His ability to bowl Yorkers and defend the smallest of targets in the death overs has made him one of India’s and Mumbai Indians’ trump cards.
Bumrah has played 120 matches in the IPL, from which he has 145 wickets, including a five-wicket haul. For India, he has taken 128 wickets in 30 Tests, 121 wickets in 72 ODIs and 70 wickets in 60 T20Is.
Navdeep Saini
Navdeep Saini is among the quickest bowlers in the IPL. In 2019, he bowled a delivery at the speed of 152.85 kmph in the IPL. And this was not the only time we saw him go past the 150 kmph mark.
Unfortunately, the pacer has not been getting enough chances both in the IPL and international cricket lately. He has played 21 matches for India in all formats combined, picking 23 wickets.
Umesh Yadav
Another speedgun in India is Umesh Yadav, who clocks at over 145 kmph frequently. His fastest delivery of 152.2 kmph came against Sri Lanka in an ODI.
Yadav was the highest wicket-taker for India and third highest overall in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He has played a total of 56 Tests, 75 ODIs and nine T20Is for India, from which he has 168, 106 and 12 wickets, respectively. In the IPL, he has represented the Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challenges Bangalore, and currently plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He has taken 136 wickets from 138 IPL matches.
