10 Indian pacers who faded into obscurity

#3 Praveen Kumar

Few can swing the cricket ball like Praveen Kumar did in his prime. Honed in the grassroot levels of Indian cricket, Praveen Kumar or PK came into the limelight after a breakout debut season for UP in 2005-06.

An ability to move the ball both ways and consistent performances for UP in his first couple of seasons put him into national reckoning. Although limited on pace, PK was high on accuracy and could bowl long spells. He was also more than handy with the bat and at times opened the innings for UP.

He was a key member of the Indian pace attack from 2008-10. His exploits in the CB series of 2008 against Australia are still fondly remembered. On an otherwise disastrous tour of England in 2011, PK was one of the few shining lights in the Indian camp and got his name etched on the Lord's Honours Board forever.

A quest for increase in pace led to his downfall. His body couldn't cope with the physical demands of bowling faster than his natural speed, and thus injuries became frequent. He could have been a part of the 2011 World Cup winning team if not for those injuries.

His fitness issues led to a drop in form and Praveen Kumar was soon forgotten, with another Meerut lad slowly rising up in the ranks to take his place. Still playing in the IPL and in the domestic circuit, Praveen Kumar looks hopeful for a national comeback which seems unlikely with every passing season.

Career stats of Praveen Kumar

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#2 Munaf Patel

Once regarded as India's fastest bowler, Munaf Patel was spotted very early by Kiran More during a nets session. Hailing from the small town of Ikhar, Munaf became an overnight star when he troubled the visiting English side on his Test debut. Bowling with pace and swing, he took 7 wickets in the match gifting India a victory by 9 wickets.

Consistent performances in his debut year made him a regular in the Indian side, which had lacked a genuine fast bowler for years. But frequent injuries forced him to drop his pace and become a line and length bowler.

There were times when Anil Kumble bowled faster than Munaf. Although still accurate, he became more and more dependent on conditions favoring fast bowling. He was good on India's tour of New Zealand in 2009 but struggled to deliver impact performances on flat wickets.

Munaf got a chance to play in the 2011 World Cup when an injury forced Praveen Kumar out. He ended the tournament as India's 3rd highest wicket-taker after Zaheer and Yuvraj. But with selectors opting for more genuine pace options and him losing form, Munaf was soon out of the national side.

He still plays for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy but with age not on his side, a national comeback might be a distant dream.

Career stats of Munaf Patel