5 bowlers who could be the answer to India's pace-bowling problems in limited overs cricket

While it was a welcome change to see MS Dhoni talk about India having a settled bowling lineup, at least in T20s, the ODI side is still in a state of flux. As far as the fast bowling department is concerned, there are plenty of candidates, who are in the side or on the fringes, who haven't done especially well.With that in mind and also considering the current leader of India's T20 bowling attack is 36, it seems only logical that India need a few pace bowling options in limited-overs cricket. While the likes of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron have been provided with opportunities, they haven't been able to make the most of it.So it is time India tried out some new options or even persist with ones they recently tried. Here are 5 bowlers who could be the answer to India's pace-bowling problems in limited overs cricket.

#5 Dhawal Kulkarni

Will he be given a consistent run in the side?

Of all the bowlers on this list, Dhawal Kulkarni might probably be the only one-dimensional pacer if you can call him that. He doesn't have the express pace that same others have, nor is he a big-hitting lower order batsman, but that should take nothing away from the fact that Kulkarni deserves another go in the Indian side.

In case you are wondering why the word "another" has been used, it is because he has already played 8 ODIs for India, the last of which was last July against Zimbabwe. The fact that he has been unceremoniously and only given a part to play if someone is injured, despite taking 13 wickets at an economy rate of 5.3 is certainly puzzling.

But what isn't is his record in the domestic circuit. Even in the recently concluded Deodhar Trophy, the 27-year-old figures of six wickets at an economy rate of 2.25 and average of 10.16, including nine maidens, just showcases his ability to keep things quiet from one end. If India are on the lookout for a seamer to contain and keep things quiet, then Dhawal Kulkarni is the person they should be looking for.

#4 Barinder Sran

Sran made an impressive debut

Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and even England. The one thing all four countries have in common is that their bowling spearhead in limited-overs is a left arm pacer. Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Mustafizur Rahman are all coming on the back of a tremendous 2015 and seeing this England have even started to groom David Willey as their very own left-arm pacer.

Apart from Zaheer Khan, India have never had many good left-arm pacers, so when Barinder Sran was picked for the ODI squad for Australia, while it was a surprise, it was also a welcome inclusion. Although he slightly faded away after an impressive debut, Sran showed that he has the skill set to succeed in international cricket.

After all, every side could do with a left arm pacer, who bowls at 140 kmph and India are no exception to that. So they should take their time with Sran and groom him carefully and not waste his talent.

#3 Nathu Singh

Will Nathu Singh be given a national call-up soon

A 20-year-old fast bowler with just 26 games under his belt might not be the safest bet, when it comes to improving India's pace bowling ranks. But when that bowler is Nathu Singh, someone who has earned the admiration of Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid and Australia's second-highest Test wicket-taker Glenn McGrath, you sit up and take notice.

Although the sample space isn't huge, his numbers are impressive nonetheless. 21 wickets in 11 T20 matches at an economy rate of 5.6 and 14 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate of 5.5 make for good reading. More so, when you consider he constantly bowls at over 140 kmph, unheard of, for an Indian fast bowler and wants to bowl even quicker.

While it is true that he is a raw talent, only if he is given a platform to perform can showcase what he is made of. So far, in the domestic circuit, he does everything that has been asked of him and then some more.

#2 Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan deserves a shot at redemption

He might be 31. He might have last played for India in October 2012. He might not even be especially fast. But in the form Irfan Pathan is in, the least India could do is try out a player, who was once believed to the next Kapil Dev.

After a brilliant start to his international career, Irfan slowly faded into the background but with age, he has become a better and wiser bowler. The experience of captaining his state side has given new insight into what it takes to make a comeback into the Indian side.

While it is true that Hardik Pandya, Pathan's Baroda teammate might be a younger and perhaps even better version of Pathan in the future, right now, the 31-year-old's experience means he must surely be worth a go. After all, if Ashish Nehra can make a comeback, then why can't or why shouldn't Irfan, who is a spring chicken at 31.

#1 Jasprit Bumrah

Can Bumrah continue on from his impressive debut series?

India's ledger of fast bowlers might not contain the same quality as Australia or West Indies, but there have still been plenty of good fast bowlers who have played for the country. From Kapil Dev to Zaheer Khan, there have been lots of good pacers, but a mystery fast bowler with an awkward action is something India have never really had.

If India are looking for someone to fill that void, then there are few better than Jasprit Bumrah, who finished his debut T20I series as the leading wicket-taker. What is impressive about Bumrah isn't just that he has a slightly weird action, but also the control he has over his deliveries.

After a good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Gujarat, the 22-year-old was thrust into the spotlight out of nowhere. And while some crumble under the pressure of going at the joint-No.1 T20 side in the world, Bumrah excelled, especially with his variations and his yorkers. If he can continue his impressive start and keep bowling fast, India will finally have a spearhead who has pace, control and good variety.