India’s fast spearhead Jaspreet Bumrah Widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in world cricket today, he is often placed alongside icons due to his influence and stature. Virat Kohli In terms of influence. However, former Indian fast bowler and current bowling coach of Delhi Capitals Manaf Patel Provides a clear and thought-provoking perspective on Bumrah’s popularity and the wider ecosystem of fast bowling in India.Speaking on TOI Sports’ Bombay Exchange Podcast, Manaf acknowledged Bumrah’s superstar status but pointed out that the level of mass appeal still differs from that of a batsman like Kohli.
“How will this happen, sir?” Check out Virat Kohli’s popularity and Bumrah’s popularity. There is a difference,” said Manaf Patel. “Bumrah is a star, no doubt, but when you compare his popularity with someone like Virat Kohli, there is still a difference,” he added. The conversation soon shifted from individual stardom to a deeper issue, the development of fast bowlers in India. Munaf highlighted a systemic challenge, stressing that while India has started producing bowlers at a faster pace, there remains a gap in grassroots awareness, training and proper guidance.He made a striking observation about pace being the primary currency in modern cricket.“If you ask me to find bowlers who bowl at 125 kmph, I can come up with many, but if you ask for bowlers who can consistently hit 140+, they are very rare,” he explained. “And the fact is, if you bowl 140+, you’re not going to get noticed. There’s almost no chance.”Manaf emphasized that he believes there is a paradox in Indian cricket, that despite the clear demand for real pace, many aspiring fast bowlers are not being effectively trained to reach those speeds.“It’s actually the easiest way out right now,” he said. “If you are a fast bowler who can hit 135–140+, you can quickly break into the Indian team. But if you bowl at 125, no matter how much you swing the ball, you may not even be selected. IPL AuctionHe also questioned whether enough is being done at the institutional level to nurture fast bowlers scientifically. Citing facilities such as the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Manaf emphasized the need for structured training involving coaches, trainers, and physiotherapists to help bowlers build speed safely and effectively.“You need to understand how to build that speed, strength, technique, workload management. Who’s teaching it? That should be the focus,” he added.Manaf’s remarks reflect a wider conversation in Indian cricket, which balances the celebration of world-class talent like Bumrah with the urgent need to build a sustainable pipeline of top-quality fast bowlers for the future.
