Srinagar: Former India pacer Irfan Pathan has warned Team India management about lack quality backup in the fast bowling lineup.
In South Africa are without Mohammad Shami and his absence was felt in first Test at Centurion.
Speaking to Star Sports in what India need to focus on in 2024, Pathan was quick to mention that the selectors, in the wake of the Centurion loss, have to create a pool of 7-8 fast bowlers to pick from.
“India need to build a good fast-bowling unit. Look what happened in South Africa. The back-ups weren’t just ready. I won’t say that they lack quality, but since they weren’t ready, you felt Shami’s absence. So that means, god forbid, if something happens to Bumrah, who we have seen has suffered from an injury owing to his bowling action, we won’t find any bowler of his quality. So India need to prepare a pool of 7-8 fast bowlers either through talent hunts or through Ranji Trophy,” he said.
“Second is leadership. 2024 will witness a whole lot of changes, so if India can prepare 2-3 possible leaders, then it won’t trouble the team. But they also need to focus on the kind of leader they want to prepare. Under Virat Kohli, in those five years, India were brilliant in Test cricket and reached the No. 1 ranking. Overall, he himself is extremely fit as a cricketer and hence played almost all the matches, performed as well and got the team to perform. Even Rohit Sharma got the team to perform in the World Cup and won the Asia Cup as well. India need a captain who can play regularly, so he has to be fit enough for the role,” he added.