Bharat Arun Praises Team Indian Pacers As “Tremendous”
The Indian men’s cricket team’s departing bowling coach, Bharat Arun has addressed the pace-bowling development that the national squad has witnessed in recent years. Paras Mhambrey, who has been operating in a similar position for the India A and U-19 squads for the previous several years, has officially cemented his place.
After Ravi Shastri took over as India’s head coach following the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, Arun joined the team. The Indian squad established a strong foundation of pacers beneath Arun, who helped them win the Test series in Australia and even hold a 2–1 lead in the England series.
In a recent conversation, Arun stated that the improvements of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had most impressed him. He was questioned who among the present generation of Indian pacers had excited him the most. He mentioned about bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav had improved throughout his term.
Bumrah wants to be the top Test bowler: Arun
“All the bowlers have been tremendous. When I took over, Shami, Ishant, Bhuvi, and Umesh were already there. I can proudly say that their consistency levels have improved tremendously. Their understanding of their skills is much better now. The development of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah has proved that they belonged to the international level straightaway,” Arun said.
Arun went on to say that he considers Bumrah as someone who wants to achieve at the Test level. He said that he was invited into the Indian Test squad at the suggestion of Shastri and captain Virat Kohli. Bumrah made his first appearance during the 2017–18 South African tour, which is when the entire section of the Indian pace-bowling boom began.
“That was very heartening. Bumrah is extremely hungry to excel in the Tests. That is his dream. Many rate him as a great white ball bowler but I know deep down he wants to be the top Test bowler. He believes he can do that. In 2018, Ravi and Virat asked the selectors to pick him for the Test series against South Africa. It was a great call. The rest is history,” Arun said.
