Mohammed Shami replacement revealed: Glenn McGrath names pacer who will lead India's bowling attack in future
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Mohammed Shami replacement revealed: Glenn McGrath names pacer who will lead India's bowling attack in future originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Glenn McGrath tips Prasidh Krishna as Jasprit Bumrah's long-term pace partner.
- Praises Krishna's height, bounce and pace; flags an occasional length issue.
- Backs veterans like Mohamad Shami for a comeback if body and form allow.
Glenn McGrath backs Prasidh Krishna to fill India's pace void
Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath has thrown his weight behind Prasidh Krishna as the fast bowler best positioned to partner Jasprit Bumrah as India builds its next generation of pace attack.
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McGrath, who currently serves as director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, has tracked Prasidh's development closely and didn't hold back when discussing his admiration for the bowler.
He described himself as a genuine fan of Prasidh's game, noting that getting his length consistently right would give him everything needed to succeed at the highest level.
"I'm a big fan of Prasidh," McGrath said. "If he gets his length right, he's got everything going for him. He has really matured. He's tall, bowls in good areas, generates bounce and has genuine pace."
McGrath pointed out that Krishna's only occasional shortcoming is a tendency to bowl a touch too short. Beyond that minor flaw, the legend views him as a complete package who has genuinely translated potential into on-field results.
"Occasionally he's a little short, but apart from that, I think he's the whole package. He's really developed and put his potential into performance."
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McGrath: India's fast-bowling transition won't be simple
India have handed several young quicks meaningful opportunities during recent tours of the UK and Zimbabwe.
It is part of a broader effort to prepare for an intense stretch of white-ball cricket ahead, including upcoming ODI and T20 World Cups scheduled in South Africa and across Australia and New Zealand respectively.
That timeline means India will need a settled, high-performing pace unit sooner rather than later, though McGrath cautioned that the ongoing generational shift won't come easily.
"You've got Bumrah, who's a class bowler, and Mohammed Shami, who's world-class as well," he said.
"Mohammed Siraj has been around for a long time too. You can't just expect to pick up straight where you left off. It's always going to be a transitional period. Other than Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, hardly anybody gets a chance... So it's not going to be easy for Australia either."
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Could Shami or Bhuvneshwar still return?
Although India continue to push young turks like Mayank Yadav, the lack of experience is evident when Bumrah is not around. Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar might be at the twilight of their careers, but the two fast bowlers can still run through an opponent's batting lineup on their day with their skill and variation.
When McGarth was asked if the duo could still work their way back into the national setup, the Australian framed it as ultimately depending on three factors: their physical readiness, their personal motivation, and the selectors' willingness to back them.
He said: "If they're prepared to put the work in and their body allows it, then why not? As fast bowlers get older, the work only gets tougher. Ultimately, it's up to them and the selectors."
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Is Prasidh really the long-term answer?
McGrath's endorsement carries weight given his own pedigree, but tagging Prasidh as Bumrah's definitive long-term partner still feels slightly premature.
Sure, Prasidh brings real bounce and genuine pace to the table, but let's not get carried away just yet. He's had his share of fitness scares along the way, and he still hasn't nailed down that consistency across all three formats the way a long-term frontline bowler needs to.
Even so, McGrath isn't wrong when he says this changeover for India is going to take time rather than happen overnight. Filling the shoes left behind by bowlers of Shami and Bumrah's stature was always going to be a slow build, not a quick swap.
What stands out most is McGrath's insistence on blending youth with experience rather than rushing a full changeover, a philosophy India's team management would do well to heed as they navigate this pace-bowling crossroads over the next World Cup cycle.
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