Thread to compare, contrast, praise, critique next gen India pacers in IPL 2026

[express bowling]

25 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

I rate Mohsin highly and hope he has a stellar season to make it into the Indian setup. We need someone who gives control and pick up wkts as well with the next WC in SA. Would be good to see him and Bumrah bowl in tandem.

 

I get the feeling that Mohsin is not interested in playing anything other than the IPL. Plays very few matches for his state and often bowls within himself when he plays.

 

He had all the ingredients of being a top T20 pacer. 

[Suhaan]

7 hours ago, tweaker said:

For series against Ireland, Zimbabwe Ashok,Tyagi, Mohsin, Vaibhav, Aquib, should be considered 

Vaibhav  is waste of space

No one looked more predictable than him,not even Sandeep Sharma,Harshal 

 

Edited April 3 by Suhaan

[Suhaan]

Vyshak is more convincing than Vaibhav 

[Ultimate_Game]

2 hours ago, express bowling said:

 

I get the feeling that Mohsin is not interested in playing anything other than the IPL. Plays very few matches for his state and often bowls within himself when he plays.

 

He had all the ingredients of being a top T20 pacer. 

 

He has had pretty poor luck with injuries. His left arm was nearly amputated just 3 years ago and he missed the next IPL season while recovering. Last year he came back and this year he looked the best since his opening season.

 

If he's not interested or if his body can't handle ODIs then maybe he can be used only for T20Is. But his line & length, control, the bounce he extracts are suited to LOIs. He's able to hit that hard length which makes it difficult for batters. Let's see how he progresses but he's the closest to the finished product we have amongst all the other pacers.

[tweaker]

On 4/3/2026 at 10:09 AM, tweaker said:

Ashok seems the most fit of the young pacers 

Tyagi and Mohsin have fitness issues from the last 3,4 years.

 

Ashok has played full season and if he has good IPL he should be next in line to play for Zimbabwe series.

 

Today Ashok bowled at 154 k and bowled mostly bowled at 149 and 150 K.

He should he can bowled tight lines and bowled Yorkers and slower ones

[BacktoCricaddict]

Adding Hinge for comparison with other newbie fast bowlers. 

 

What a great start!  Along with Ashok Sharma, he has jumped to the top of my list!

[BacktoCricaddict]

And Sakib Hussain. 

 

And here I was, thinking the cupboard is bare!! I realize that not everyone will make it, but there is enough talent to give hope!!

 

 

[vvvslaxman]

Alright if we go by these attributes that AI presented

 

Who sits where?

 

 

 

Key attributes of a fast bowler include high physical strength and explosive power, specifically in the legs and core, to generate maximum speed. Essential technical skills include a smooth, repeatable action and a fast, balanced run-up. Mentally, they require immense resilience, aggression, and tactical intelligence to break down batters. 

 

• Physical Attributes: High percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers for explosive movement. Elite fitness, stamina, and core strength are necessary for maintaining pace through long spells.
• Technical Skills (Biomechanics):
  • Fast Run-up: Essential for generating momentum.
  • Bound and Leap: A large stride at delivery (high front foot contact) increases velocity.
  • Front Leg Stiffness: A braced front knee allows for maximum energy transfer.
  • Delayed Arm Separation: High shoulder rotation and delayed arm action act as a sling.
• Tactical Acumen: The ability to move the ball (swing/seam) and maintain control over line and length under pressure.
• Mental Toughness: A determined mindset to challenge batters, manage injuries, and stay consistent.
• Physical Conditioning: Strong lower back, glutes, and shoulders to manage the high stress of fast bowling. 
   

[tweaker]

9 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

And here I was, thinking the cupboard is bare!! I realize that not everyone will make it, but there is enough talent to give hope!!

 

Is is made to look like that as Sandeep,Jaydeo, Harshal, Bhubaneswar, are blocking the places.

 

How can coaches, bowling coaches, assistant coaches figure out the difference in the nets ,when Praful,Saquib, Harshal, Jaydeo are bowling in tandem.

 

Are they just selecting the bowlers on seniority and experience quota

[figo6762]

And we had Ghosh , hangergaker warming benches .. BS I say 

[nevada]

11 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

And Sakib Hussain. 

 

And here I was, thinking the cupboard is bare!! I realize that not everyone will make it, but there is enough talent to give hope!!

 

 

We could use a set of 5-6 good fast  bowlers in rotation mode, 2-3 at a time to keep up the surprise factor for opposition batsmen. 

[New guy]

We have given exciting young attacking batsmen like Abhishek, Sooryavanshi, etc chance to shine, open in the last few years and are reaping the rewards now. Even other batsmen like ishan, samson were forced to adapt more agressive ways to keep up.

 

Time to do the same for bowlers, sideline the tried and tested, use them as supporting bowlers, bring in exciting youngsters.

 

If we can sideline pant as a batsman because he was nothing compared to other hitters, why can't we sideline unadkut. Bhuvi, sandeep, etc

[New guy]

Mayank is injury prone but never leaks run when fit. I don't see the logic behind LSG benching them.

[BacktoCricaddict]

4 hours ago, New guy said:

We have given exciting young attacking batsmen like Abhishek, Sooryavanshi, etc chance to shine, open in the last few years and are reaping the rewards now. Even other batsmen like ishan, samson were forced to adapt more agressive ways to keep up.

 

Time to do the same for bowlers, sideline the tried and tested, use them as supporting bowlers, bring in exciting youngsters.

 

If we can sideline pant as a batsman because he was nothing compared to other hitters, why can't we sideline unadkut. Bhuvi, sandeep, etc

I can see Team India being conservative, but am surprised franchise-cricket teams are doing the same thing.

 

Which brings up the question: What prompted SRH to try Hinge and Hussain yesterday? Injuries? Desperation? @vvvslaxman 

[govinda]

2 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

I can see Team India being conservative, but am surprised franchise-cricket teams are doing the same thing.

 

Which brings up the question: What prompted SRH to try Hinge and Hussain yesterday? Injuries? Desperation? @vvvslaxman 

Desperation

[vvvslaxman]

51 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

I can see Team India being conservative, but am surprised franchise-cricket teams are doing the same thing.

 

Which brings up the question: What prompted SRH to try Hinge and Hussain yesterday? Injuries? Desperation? @vvvslaxman 

Same old "experience" logic.

[BacktoCricaddict]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

Same old "experience" logic.

But how come yesterday they reversed the logic? Were JU and HP injured? Or did they get benched?

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

But how come yesterday they reversed the logic? Were JU and HP injured? Or did they get benched?

Seniority quota. Former purple cap quota. 

[BacktoCricaddict]

Adding Rasikh Salaam (26 y.o, so window is already narrow; rated by cricinfo as "medium")

 

Comments? @express bowling @vvvslaxman @singhvivek141 @tweaker @Suhaan @tapandrun @rkt.india and others.

 

How does he compare - speedwise and skills-wise? 

Edited April 16 by BacktoCricaddict

[tapandrun]

45 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Adding Rasikh Salaam (26 y.o, so window is already narrow; rated by cricinfo as "medium")

 

Comments? @express bowling @vvvslaxman @singhvivek141 @tweaker @Suhaan @tapandrun @rkt.india and others.

 

How does he compare - speedwise and skills-wise? 

Skills are needed at intnl level, bowler can be v.v.fast but if then do not have skill it does not matter vs top players/top-teams. Just speed can be useful vs not so good quality sides or batters but not vs high quality teams and batters.

 

Speed enhances the effect of the skills-set. say if there was a out-swing bowler bowling at high pace the effect on batter and natural aero-dynamic will have diff. effect and the skills look more enhanced.

 

At intnl level bowlers have to bowl at-least at lively pace (136+kmph) unless playing on v.supportive pitches..If bowlers are bowling below 136 kmph skills hardly matters as pitches does not support the bowling that much, batter will find a way to counter what ever is coming their way as speeds are not that much.

 

Recent example -- Shaheen when he was fully fit at bowling 140-150 kmph he was 1 trick pony back then as well but it was working for him back then too, now the pace is down same skill-set not he is not even half of the bowler when he was 140-150 kmph

 

Bhumrah-- This IPL he is not going full-tilt bowling sub 137 kmph , looks ordinary , and currently he is most skilled bowler. bhuvi is example he infact talked about this in a video that when he 1st played intnl he got wkt but as his pace was not that high batters found ways to neutralize swing and started playing him better then he had to increase his pace.

 

Now in regards to Rasik -- He is skillful, and have brains. but pace is not there. He does not play IPL games that often he has novelty factor to him and teams have not yet started to plan vs him so he is effective.This season he is what Sandeep sharma was last year or Mohit sharma was year before that... next season they all looked ordinary.

 

And for Ind prospect, selecting any pacer in white-ball one have to ask if the bowler is #2 bowler or #3 or #4 role bowler. If they are #2 bowler you can pick them in try in at Odis and T20is, but #3/4 pacer in white-ball need batting skills too. 

 

It is same for spinner too, if the bowl is not turning sharply it does not matter what is the degree of turn vs good quality batter. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 16 by tapandrun