The 52-year-old Arun said India also have a pretty healthy pool of fast bowlers coming through the ranks.
Among a few worries in India's fast bowling department, the absence of left-arm pacers is something that the team management is keen to address rather quickly. A left-arm fast bowler – or medium-pacer for that matter – gives the team a potent weapon, forcing opponents to alter their strategies. Like in batting, a left-right bowling combination with the new ball can be a tricky proposition, forcing batsmen to constantly adjust to different lines.
The Wasim Akram-Waqar Younis combination created havoc for over a decade for Pakistan. The likes of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan and RP Singh gave India the advantage of having quality left-armers for quite a good period of time, though they broke down constantly in their careers.
Compare India's current cupboard of left-arm pacers to the other countries, and it's worryingly bare. Australia have Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, New Zealand have Trent Boult, while Pakistan have a battery in Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan. Indian team's bowling coach Bharat Arun acknowledged the chink in the armor. "We would love to have a left-arm fast bowler in the team. It gives a different perception to your team's strategies. We are looking at one. There are a couple of left-armers playing in the Ranji Trophy. They will be watched keenly this season," Arun said here on Sunday after the second day's play was abandoned due to rain.
While India's key to success in Tests at home has been their spinners, Arun differed with the notion that the team is found wanting in quality fast bowlers. He also saw nothing wrong with India playing to its strength and on pitches suiting it. Why, he was even seen chatting constantly with the groundsmen before the second Test about the surface, having a closer look at the deck leading up to the Test. "In India, we do have quality pacers. We have at least four fast bowlers who can clock over 140 kmph consistently. Right now, we would like to play on wickets that are more conducive to our team and our strategies. If you look at this (M Chinnaswamy Stadium) wicket, I wouldn't call it a spinner-friendly wicket. What we have for this Test match is a pretty good wicket," he said.
The 52-year-old Arun said India also have a pretty healthy pool of fast bowlers coming through the ranks. "We need to monitor them and guide them to make the (Indian) team," said Arun, who was previously the India under-19 coach and also the head bowling coach of the National Cricket Academy. While the Indian bowlers have been shaping up well, Arun said Bhuvneshwar Kumar "needs to be consistent" in order to return to the playing XI. The last time the Uttar Pradesh swing bowler played in a Test was in Sydney earlier this year against Australia. Since then, he has been out of the XI. Asked about the dilemma Kumar was facing, Arun said: "There are people who bowl 140kmph-plus and still swing the ball. Bhuvi's USP was swing. He has definitely put more yards in his pace now. But it's only a matter of time before he makes a return. It's not like he's not swinging the ball. He needs to be consistent. With work, he will definitely come back."
The former India and Tamil Nadu medium-pacer was pleased with Ravindra Jadeja's return to Test cricket after being out for 15 months prior to the start of the series. Jadeja picked up man of the match award in Mohali with a match haul of eight wickets (3/55 & 5/21) and has four wickets to his credit in the first innings here. "I guess he had some time to reflect (on what was going wrong) when he was out of the team. He had time to think about where to improve. His performance in Ranji Trophy should have given him loads of confidence. Moreover, Jadeja is one of your banker bowlers, no matter what – whether Tests or One-dayers. He is somebody you can trust on, somebody who will keep the runs in check. He's using that strength to the advantage now," Arun said.
Arun has also credited with Ravichandran Ashwin's transformation over the last one year, with the off-spinner achieving success overseas as well. "It's all about creating awareness, making him aware of what he is doing. It's also about empowering a bowler. The challenge is to empower them so that they are able to feel what they are doing and they are able to repeat it consistently," said Arun on the work he has done with Ashwin. "We make them (bowlers) more aware of different angles and what angles would best suit their bowling. Once the players are aware of these things, he will be able to perform the skills much better. They also gain a lot of confidence knowing that they will be consistent in what they do," added Arun.
COACH'S CORNER
On Ravindra Jadeja
I guess he had some time to reflect (on what was going wrong) when he was out of the team. He had time to think about where to improve. His performance in Ranji Trophy should have given him loads of confidence
On R Ashwin
It's all about creating awareness, making him aware of what he is doing. The challenge is to empower them so that they are able to feel what they are doing and they are able to repeat it consistently
On Bhuvneshwar Kumar
There are people who bowl 140kmph-plus and still swing the ball. Bhuvi's USP was swing. He has definitely put more yards in his pace now... It's not like he's not swinging the ball. He needs to be consistent
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