Cricket is one of the most popular sports in India, and fast bowling has always been an essential element of the game.
One of the key aspects of cricket is fast bowling, a type of bowling that involves delivering the ball at high speeds, usually above 140 km/h (87 mph).
In recent years, India has produced some of the best fast bowlers in the world, who have impressed with their pace, accuracy, and skill.
They have helped India win many matches and tournaments, both at home and abroad.
To know which bowlers rank the best currently, here are the top 10 Indian fast bowlers in 2023, based on their performance, speed, and popularity:
10. Harshal Patel
Patel made history in the IPL 2021 season by becoming the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul against the Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful and formidable teams in the league.
He finished the season as the highest wicket-taker with 32 scalps in 15 matches, earning the Purple Cap award.
His consistent performance in the IPL earned him praise from various cricket experts and legends, such as Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, who lauded his ability to take wickets and bowl effectively in high-pressure situations.
Patel made his international debut for India in November 2021, in a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand. He impressed with his performance, taking two wickets in his first match at Jaipur, helping India win by five wickets.
However, Patel’s performance in international cricket, especially in containing batters in the death overs, has been a point of scrutiny, and his success at that level is still a subject of evaluation.
He conceded 53 runs in four overs in the second T20I against New Zealand, and 49 runs in four overs in the third T20I against Sri Lanka, both of which India lost.
Patel is one of the best current Indian fast bowlers who has also shown glimpses of his talent in international cricket, but he needs to improve his consistency and adaptability to become a regular and reliable member of the Indian team.
9. Umran Malik
Umran Malik is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the Indian cricket team and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL as a right-arm fast bowler.
He also represents Jammu and Kashmir in domestic cricket.
Malik is one of the fastest bowlers currently in 2023, having clocked 156 kph to break his own record as India’s fastest bowler.
He bowled the fastest ball by an Indian in IPL clocking 157 kmph in a match against Delhi Capitals.
Malik has impressed the cricket fans with his performances in the IPL, with some commentators predicting that he will take the world by storm if selected for India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
He was also named the Emerging Player of the Tournament in the IPL 2022 season.
Malik has recently been in the news because of comparisons being made between him and uncapped Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah, as well as speculation that he may be given a chance to play for Team India in their upcoming One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand.
Videos of Malik bowling at speeds of up to 150 km/h have also gone viral on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
8. Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the Indian cricket team and the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL)as a right-hand medium-pace bowler and lower-order batsman. He also represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket.
He is known for his swing bowling and ability to take early wickets with the new ball, typically bowls at speeds between 135-140 kph.
He has the added capability of scoring quick runs when needed, apart from his rhythm bowling.
Chahar made his international debut for India in 2018, in a Twenty20 International (T20I) match against England.
He became the first Indian male cricketer to take a hat-trick in a T20I match in 2019, against Bangladesh. He also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a T20I match, with 6 for 7.
In 2021, he played a match-winning innings, scoring 69 not out from number eight against Sri Lanka in a One Day International (ODI).
Chahar is one of the best current Indian fast bowlers, who has shown his potential and skill in both domestic and international cricket. He has also been a key player for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, winning the title with them in 2018 and 2021.
7. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna is known for his right-arm fast-medium bowling style, and he can generate good pace and movement off the pitch.
He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for the Indian cricket team on March 23, 2021, and has since been a regular feature in the national side.
He has also played for the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), demonstrating his ability to perform under high-pressure situations and against top-quality opposition.
Prasidh Krishna’s bowling statistics reflect his effectiveness as a bowler.
In ODIs, he has taken 29 wickets in 17 matches with an average of 25.58 and an economy rate of 5.60. His ability to take wickets at crucial junctures has been instrumental in India’s limited-overs matches.
At 27 years of age, Prasidh Krishna is still in the early stages of his career and has the potential to further improve and establish himself as a mainstay in the Indian bowling attack.
6. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav is known for his exceptional speed, typically bowling at over 140kph and being the fastest Indian bowler with a top speed of 152.5 km/h. His ability to move the ball both ways and deliver an effective bouncer adds to his skill set. Yadav’s performance in Test cricket has been particularly noteworthy, with a strike rate of 46.1, better than that of former Indian captain Kapil Dev. He has also received praise for his consistent wicket-taking ability and his tendency to attack the stumps, resulting in a significant number of bowled and lbw dismissals. Additionally, he has made valuable contributions in both domestic and international cricket, further solidifying his reputation as a top-tier fast bowler.
5. Shardul Thakur
Thakur’s is a Right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder from India.
He is a member of the Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai cricket team, and India A cricket team.
Over the years, he has developed other abilities like out swinging, which he is exceptional at.
He poses a serious threat for batsmen around the world, as he is capable of keeping his seam positions while keeping his pace.
His bowling style may not suit T20 cricket best, as his less than glittery IPL career has shown. But he is the asset that India would soon want in white attire (Test match).
Shardul’s career and his success testify to his hard work and he sure looks like a talent to look after in the future following an impressive beginning of his international career.
4. Mohammed Siraj
Siraj is one of the best current Indian fast bowlers, who has shown his potential and skill in both domestic and international cricket.
With senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami missing significant time due to injuries, Siraj stepped up admirably to fill the void.
Siraj’s ability to swing the ball and take crucial wickets has been instrumental in India’s success.
He has also been a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, showcasing his skills in the T20 format. Siraj’s impressive performance in both domestic and international cricket has earned him a reputation as a top-tier fast bowler.
In the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Siraj has been the world’s top one-day international (ODI) bowler, taking 39 wickets in 21 ODIs this year.
He has also played a crucial role in India’s limited-overs matches, taking 24 wickets in 15 games when Jasprit Bumrah was available for only five games and Mohammed Shami played three.
3. Navdeep Saini
Navdeep Saini is considered one of the best fast bowlers in India due to his impressive speed and performance. He has consistently bowled at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, showcasing his ability to generate significant pace.
Saini’s rapid deliveries have earned him recognition as one of the fastest bowlers in India, and his performance in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) has further solidified his reputation.
Additionally, Saini’s role as a right-arm fast bowler has been instrumental in providing the Indian team with a genuine pace option, especially in limited-overs cricket.
He has performed well in both domestic and international cricket, taking 25 wickets in 14 ODIs and 13 wickets in 11 T20Is.
He has also impressed in the IPL, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals.
2. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami is in excellent form in 2023, playing a crucial role as a right-arm fast bowler for the Indian cricket team.
He has been instrumental in India’s success in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, taking 39 wickets in 21 ODIs this year, making him the world’s top ODI bowler.
He played a pivotal role in restricting New Zealand to 273 in their first innings, taking three wickets.
Shami’s ability to take crucial wickets at crucial junctures has been pivotal in India’s limited-overs matches. He has also been a key player in the Indian Premier League, showcasing his skills in the T20 format.
His current strike rate and economy rate are amongst the best in the world.
Shami’s impressive performance in both domestic and international cricket has earned him a reputation as a top-tier fast bowler.
1. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is currently considered the best Indian fast bowler due to his unique bowling action, exceptional pace, accuracy, and variations.
He can bowl consistently over 140 kph and has a lethal yorker that can trouble any batsman.
He can also swing the ball both ways and deliver effective bouncers and slower balls.
Bumrah’s current form after the ICC 2023 World Cup is very impressive.
He was the leading wicket-taker for India in the tournament with 20 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 23.55 and an economy rate of 4.06. He also took two five-wicket hauls, one against Sri Lanka and one against New Zealand.
Bumrah has also performed well in the recent bilateral series against Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Ireland. He took 10 wickets in six ODIs and seven wickets in five T20Is.
He is currently ranked second in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings and fourth in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings.
Unfortunately, Jasprit Bumrah faced several injuries in 2023, which affected his participation in various matches and tournaments.
Bumrah is one of the best current Indian fast bowlers, who has shown his potential and skill in both domestic and international cricket.
He is a valuable asset for the Indian team in all formats and could be a key bowler for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Indian fast bowlers have come a long way in the past few years (especially from 2010s), and the future looks bright.
With talented young players emerging on the scene, it’s an exciting time for Indian cricket fans.
The top 10 Indian fast bowlers currently playing the game are a testament to their hard work and dedication.
