Mumbai: Former India batsman Aakash Chopra is of the view that India’s current bowling line-up is the best ever in the history of Test cricket. Chopra’s remarks came after India’s historic win over England in the second Test at Lord’s.
Spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, the Indian pace attack have clearly made their mark on the ongoing series against England. Siraj and Bumrah combined to pick seven wickets in England’s second innings to bowl out the opposition for 120 and register a memorable 151-run victory.
“I don’t think India has had a better bowling line-up than this in their cricket history. This is India’s best Test bowling line-up ever. There is no doubt about that. It is because when Bhajji and Kumble were together, two great spinners, we did not have four or five fast bowlers,” Chopra, a former opener and now a commentator, said.
Chopra reckoned that while bowlers like Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble did wonders for the team during their time, the current depth of the Indian bowling unit makes them the ‘best-ever’ in the history of longest format.
“Along with Zaheer Khan, there was Ajit Agarkar sometimes, and Ashish Nehra or RP Singh on other occasions. But four or five of this level together – that along with Bumrah you get Shami, Ishant, Siraj, Shardul and there are still fast bowlers sitting out. This is insane, the depth we are seeing,” Chopra added.
“The two spinners we are talking about, Ravichandran Ashwin is standing shoulder to shoulder with Harbhajan Singh, Jaddu is far behind Anil Kumble but the fast bowlers are making up for the lack of wickets or experience.” This was India’s third Test win at Lord’s.
