A big concern is quietly building in Indian cricket and it’s not about batting but bowling. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised questions about what lies ahead for India’s bowling attack, especially once Jasprit Bumrah steps away from the game.
Ashwin believes India’s batting future is in a strong position, particularly in white-ball formats. According to him, the team has enough talent to win multiple trophies in the coming years, thanks to its powerful group of batters.
However, he quickly pointed out a bigger issue, the uncertainty in bowling. Jasprit Bumrah has been the backbone of India’s pace attack and is often considered one of the best fast bowlers of the modern era. In the past, India also had a strong pace unit with players like Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj supporting him.
Now, the question is simple — who will take responsibility after Jasprit Bumrah?
Ashwin also highlighted a deeper problem in cricket today. Bowling is slowly losing its appeal compared to batting. With modern cricket focusing more on big hits and entertainment, young players are naturally drawn towards batting rather than bowling.
He explained that bowling and batting almost feel like two different roles now, with batting getting more attention and appreciation. Since bowlers are often seen as setting up the stage for big shots, fewer youngsters may feel motivated to choose bowling as a career.
This creates a long-term concern. While India continues to produce exciting batters, the same depth is not clearly visible in bowling. Beyond Bumrah and Siraj, there are not many bowlers who have consistently secured their place at the highest level.
Still, there is some hope. Young players like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh have shown potential. Additionally, talents like Auqib Nabi from Jammu & Kashmir are emerging.
India’s future success may depend on how well it balances both batting and bowling, ensuring that bowlers are equally valued and encouraged.
