From Ruthless To Listless: Is India’s Decline As A Pace Powerhouse Beyond Repair?

India's pace attack [Source: @DelhiCapitals/X.com]

“For 60 overs, they should feel hell out there.”

This iconic battle cry by Virat Kohli before India’s unforgettable win at Lord’s in 2021 wasn’t just a rallying call; it was a prophecy fulfilled. That Indian team, armed with a world-class pace attack, did make England feel hell for 60 overs and beyond. Cut to 2025, and that same fire seems to be flickering rather than blazing. India’s pace legacy, once defined by venom, variety, and discipline, now seems dangerously reliant on a single man: Jasprit Bumrah.

The ongoing Test series against England in 2025 has sparked an uncomfortable question: has India’s golden era of fast bowling come to an end?

The Golden Era: A Flashback

To appreciate the present, one must understand the past. Between 2015 and 2022, Indian pacers were not just competitive, they were world-beaters. Backed by the aggressive captaincy of Virat Kohli, pacers like Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav hunted in packs. 

They won games in England, Australia, and South Africa, making India one of the most feared bowling units in the world.

During that period, Indian pacers took 50.29% of India’s total wickets in Tests at a collective average of 25.90. Their ability to adapt, bowl dry spells, and strike at key moments created a blueprint for fast bowling excellence rarely seen in Indian cricket.

(Indian pacers hunted as a unit between 2015 and 2022)

This period featured the iconic performances; a 151-run win at Lord’s and a 157-run win at The Oval in 2021, built on relentless fast bowling that left England gasping. Bumrah was still evolving, but he had the cushion of experience around him. Shami brought seam and accuracy, while Ishant brought control, and Siraj added energy and bite to the lineup. 

Bumrah Remains Lone Warrior As Indian Pace Attack Reduces To A One-Man Army

Fast forward to 2025, the Indian pace attack feels unrecognisable. With Shami recovering from injury, and Ishant and Umesh no longer in the fray, Bumrah is leading India's one-man army with the ball. He continues to defy the odds taking five-wicket hauls, bowling long spells, and leading with heart but the lack of a support cast is glaring.

The numbers tell a compelling story:

Indian Pacers in Tests Since Jan 2023 (Excluding Bumrah)

Collective Average: 36.06

It’s clear: India’s pacers apart from Bumrah, have struggled to maintain pressure, leak runs, and lack the incisiveness needed at the highest level.

India doesn’t lack fast-bowling talent, it lacks fast-bowling grooming. Bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh have promise, but have been inconsistently picked and poorly developed. 

The system seems reactive, not proactive. Rotation without a roadmap is leading to half-baked careers.

And it’s not just about physical readiness, it’s about mental steel, game sense, and learning the art of building spells, something veterans like Shami and Ishant brought to the table.

Mohammed Shami, currently sidelined, minced no words when speaking on his YouTube channel: “The other Indian bowlers should talk to Bumrah and learn from him… Planning together is crucial. If they support Bumrah, we can win matches. But if we keep expecting him to do it alone, this pattern of defeat will repeat.”

He dismissed the common trope that India loses in England due to weak batting.“The batters did fine. We lost the game because we gave away too many easy runs. The bowling needs serious attention,” he emphasised.

Is There Hope Of Redemption?

India’s fast-bowling cupboard isn’t entirely bare. But the pipeline is disjointed. Players like Arshdeep Singh bring variation and experience from County Cricket. Mukesh Kumar has shown glimpses of control. Harshit Rana and Akash Deep need nurturing, not bench-warming.

Yet, unless a coherent pace strategy is established, similar to what Kohli-Shastri enforced in the mid-2010s, the slide could deepen. Bumrah cannot shoulder the burden forever, especially with his history of injuries and a hectic international calendar.

The fire that once made India’s pace unit the most respected in world cricket is now a smouldering ember. Jasprit Bumrah still roars, but the chorus around him is fading.

If India want to avoid a full-blown pace crisis, the time to act is now; not in the next series, not after another defeat, but today. The baton must be passed. Or else, the era of domination will quietly slip into nostalgia.

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