India need to prepare a good fast bowling unit in 2024: Irfan Pathan

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan urged the Men in Blue to target building a larger pool of fast bowlers in the year 2024.

The current Indian team management has come under fire following the team’s innings and 32-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test in Centurion, in which seamers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur struggled badly and leaked plenty of runs.

Speaking to Star Sports on areas India need to improve in the new year, Pathan said: “India need to prepare a good fast bowling unit in 2024. We saw what happened in South Africa, the back ups were not ready. Shami was missed.

Read | You need to be more creative, Allan Donald tells Indian pacers

“If god forbid, something happens to Bumrah as we have seen in the past, injury can happen to him. If we don’t prepare a big pool, we won’t get quality pacers like them (Bumrah, Shami). You need to have 7-8 pacers ready for the highest level,” he said.

The visitors went with a four-pronged pace attack for the first test, but only Jasprit Bumrah (4/69) was able to challenge the Proteas batters, who ended up going posting 408.

Fellow new-ball pacer Mohammed Siraj too went for runs, but struck early in the innings by dismissing Aiden Markram and would later remove a set David Bedingham to bring the Indians back into the game late on the second day.

However, Prasidh and Thakur’s struggles exposed India’s lack of depth in the absence of Mohammed Shami, who had been ruled out of the series with an ankle injury.

Read | Rohit Sharma backs Prasidh Krishna’s ‘ability to succeed’ in Test cricket

Indian batting icon Sunil Gavaskar, meanwhile, called for the Rohit Sharma-led side to have a “good blend of youth and experience”.

“The biggest focus should be on having a good blend of youth and experience. Because that is always something that comes in handy. You need to have a wise cool head to temper the excitement of the younger blood,” said Gavaskar.

Pathan also touched upon skipper Rohit and whether the Indian team had a plan for succession in place.

“Leadership is another area we need to focus on. We need to have 2-3 leaders ready as this year we can see many changes. India did very well under Kohli in Test cricket for five years. He led from the front.

“Same with Rohit who led us to the World Cup final and we won Asia Cup under him. We need to groom leaders like them,” Pathan added.