The obvious cliché, ‘It is the bowlers who win you Test matches’ is also the fundamental truth about cricket. And India’s bowlers have now won them three consecutive Test matches, including a series in Sri Lanka.
The two pioneers of the victory in Sri Lanka were R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma. The improvement in their performances has been prominent over the last year and they have led the team’s bowling attack skilfully. A lot of credit for their resurgence goes to India’s bowling coach, Bharat Arun, whose astute cricket knowledge and man-management skills have helped India’s two senior most bowlers reach their potential.
Talking about his contribution in the bowlers’ success, Arun limits it to creating awareness in them. “It was about making them more aware of what they are doing. It is more about empowering a player so that they are able to feel what they are doing and are able to repeat it more consistently.
“We make them aware of different angles and what angles will suit their bowling best. Once this awareness comes, the player is able to perform his skill in a much better way. That also brings a lot of confidence, knowing that they can do it consistently.”
While Ashwin and Ishant have grown as bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar seems to have lost his magic a bit. In a bid for that extra pace, he seems to have lost his ability to swing the ball as prodigiously as he used to. According to Arun, Bhuvi will regain his touch soon.
“There are people who bowl at 140 and still swing the ball,” Arun said. “Bhuvi has added a couple of yards in his pace. His USP was his swing. It is not that he is not swinging the ball, but with time and a bit of work, he will start swinging the ball consistently again.”
In the ongoing Test series against South Africa, the Indian spinners have hogged the limelight. Ashwin and Jadeja have been instrumental in wrapping up the Proteas’ batting line-up under 220 three times in a row and the fast bowlers have had to play the supporting role.
Arun said the important thing here is to keep the pacers motivated. “It is definitely a challenge for the team management as a whole. We have to look at the conditions and pick combinations accordingly. We can’t always give them a great run but we have to keep them motivated, make them feel that they do have a major role to play when the opportunity does arise,” he said.
