Cricket is seen as the most popular sport in southeast Asia. In India it is seen almost as a religion. It’s not without a reason. Cricket is one of the most paced sports out there, especially when it comes to its bowling part. It’s no wonder that some of the most popular cricketers out there are blowers. Many matches have gone from 0 to 100 when a pace bowler took over. Bowlers blessed with speed and curve have set the world of cricket on blaze since its early days.
Just like many other sports, throughout its history, cricket went from a refined game played by amateurs, to a professional sport played by high end athletes. With advancements made in gear productions, medicine, the way players train, care about nutrition and recuperation, and finally how the game is played stylistically, speed has become vital in cricket. As we said, each team that has the highest aspirations, needs to have at least one pace blessed bowler. The speed of the ball matters more in cricket today than it ever had in the past. With that said, let’s take a look at the fastest bowlers in India, the land of cricket.
Umran Malik
The 1999 born fast bowler Umran Malik is widely regarded as the fastest player in India in his position. The Jammu and Kashmir born player hit the world scene with his T20 debut back in 2021. Before reaching the top level, Malik was making strides with his local club J&K, where he competed for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The List A debut came in 2021, and after playing his game at the 2020/21 Vijay Hazare Trophy Umran never looked back. His IPL debut came during the COVID struck season when he was called upon to be a replacement for Thangarasu Natarajan, by the Sunrisers Hydebrand. Since 2021 he is considered to be the fastest bowler in India, and one of the fastest ever recorded in history of the sport.
A full debut in the Indian Premier League for Umran Malik followed shortly in 2021 when he was selected to play against the Kolkata Knight Riders. It didn’t take Malik long to get the eyes of the world on himself. During a Sunrisers vs. Knight Riders duel he managed to bowl 5 straight deliveries. The fun part is that each of the five balls bowled had a speed recorded at over 150 km/hr. A year later from his debut he was officially named as the fastest bowler India has at the moment after he managed to roll the ball at the amazing speed of 157 kilometres per hour against the Delhi Capitals. It’s been three years since, and to this day no one managed to repeat his feat, including himself.
Mayank Yadav
The one player that came close to repeating the speed standard set by Umran Malik is Mayank Yadav. With a single bowl as fast as 156.7 km/hr, he is deservedly the second player on this list. The Lucknow Super Giants super talented youngster is only 22 years old, and he will be aiming to take the crown of India’s fastest bowler in the future. It is evident that the Delhi born player can reach the distance as he was bowling plenty of games at speed over the much coveted 150 km/hr speed. With being an Indian T20i international, T20 international, and a List A cricket player, the competition against the best of the best on the international level is going to do wonders for Yadav in the future. The currently second fastest bowler in the history of the IPL has all the makings of a future record holder in our eyes.
Javagal Srinath
Now, here’s a blast from the past. As you know, cricket in India has not been played since yesterday. Many people would argue that the sport was better back in the day. When you take a look at the accomplishments Javagal Srinath had back in the 90s, it is hard to argue against those claims. Even before the game went modern, records of fast bowling were set right and left. When you ask the older generations of cricket fans in India who is the fastest bowler the quickest answer you’re going to get is certainly Javagal Srinath. During the 90s he was the main player in many quality squads of India men’s national team. His fastest bowl was recorded at 154.5 km/hr. For years his name was associated with the fastest bowlers in India. Things will be like that when you know that Srinath had 551 wickets from 296 internationals. Truly a career and the speed of bowling to be remembered for years to come.
Irfan Pathan
While only the fourth name on this list, Pathan’s speed of top bowling recorded at 153.7 km/hr is nothing to be scuffed at. Also, when you know that Irfan Pathan is the player who took a hat trick against a well oiled Pakistani team on their home ground, you know that we’re writing about a legend here. While his speed was matched and exceeded, the hat trick record stands to this day. Even since his early days, Irfan was a well touted prospect, as his left hand was one of the best in India since junior cricket. Seeing him swing the ball both ways with ease with top notch accuracy made him a regular player at his IPL franchise, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Indian national team. The only downside to his career was the fact that he was injured. What was touted to be one of the top careers in sport, was cut short, and was often interrupted by constant nagging injuries. Yet, when healthy, Pathan was at the top of the cricket game in a career that, with interruptions, lasted for almost two decades.
Mohammed Shami
Shami is one of the players on this list who is actively working on taking home the record for fastest Indian bowler alive. When Mohammed Shami bowls, the world stops, and the batters tremble in fear. Almost all of his balls are recorded at speeds well over 140 km/hr. The fastest one to date was recorded at 153.3 km/hr, and we can almost guarantee that his right hand can do even more. Mohammed Shami is a refined player who is one of the best at what he does at the moment. He is touted as the player who mastered the reverse swing, and is not afraid to use it. Year in and year out he has been steadily improving, and thus Shami has managed to become one of the pillars of both the India men’s national team, and each of his IPL franchises and he has played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hydebrand. When you have the ability to swing the ball both ways, with great speed, the greatness is destined for you and Mohammed fully embraced it.
Jasprit Bumrah
By now, you understand that the competition among the fastest Indian bowlers is rather heavy. Having Jasprit Bumrah this low speaks volumes in itself. Bumrah has managed to record a top bowling speed after one of his swings at 153.26 km/hr. Quite impressive, and yet nowhere close to the top names on this list. While not quite the fastest, Jasprit is certainly one of the best bowlers India has at this moment. As far as yorkers go, he is deemed as one of the finest to ever greet the cricket field. Jasprit Bumrah has managed to remain an international for India over the years despite the heavy competition as he always stood out as a player who can shift from being a quick bouncer and a slow on at will. It is rare to see him bowl under the speeds of 140 km/hr when he’s at the top of his game. Bumrah spent his entire domestic career with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, while he’s been active for India since 2016. Still young at 31 years of age by cricket standards, we expect a lot from Jasprit going forward. Maybe even the fastest bowling record is written in his book, we just didn’t get there this year while reading his cricket history.
Navdeep Saini
If we only had two words to describe Navdeep Saini, it would be pace and accuracy. With those traits, the top speed of his bowl ever recorded is set at 152.85 km/hr. Quite impressive, and in Saini’s case, quite often to happen. The former Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals player was one of the fastest bowlers in the IPL. He was even one of the rare Indian players to go abroad while at his peak, playing for Kent and Worcestershire during his career. While his international career with India was a short lived one, his bowl recorded at 152.85 km/hr will stand the test of time, and he will always find his name written in articles such as this one. In recent years, he’s been on a downward trajectory, but is still trying his best at Delhi Premier League and Ranji Trophy, in order to get back to the IPL and the India men’s national team.
Ishant Sharma
Sharma is not your prototype bowler. At six feet and four inches he is one of the tallest cricket players in India. Ishant Sharma is a nightmare match for every batsman he faces. Not only that, he is also among the top ten fastest bowlers in India ever. Sharma made it to the record books with an amazing bowl recorded at 152.6 km/hr. While this record is impressive, what Ishant will be remembered for is his role in India’s first win at the Lord’s Cricket ground after 28 years back in 2014. It was a night when Sharma showed the world his playbook and it was filled with perfect in swinging deliveries. With his career spanning for almost 20 years, Sharma got to represent teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hydebrand, Delhi capitals, Gujarat Titans, and Sussex among few others, always playing his best game. At international level he represented India across all formats, starting his international career in 2007 and retiring in 2021. Due to his advanced age, it is hard to envision Ishant Sharma breaking the fastest bowling record, but his name will stick around for years to come, we’re certain of it.
Varun Aaron
Aaron is not a standout name as some from this list, but Varun has shown he can swing it when he bowled at speed of 152.5 km/hr. His pace is out of this world, and at only 20 years of age he started his career with Jharkhand. During his career, Aaron has become famous for his strong right arm, and a classic style of bowling which was at times unstoppable due to the sheer speed of his throws. During the years between 2011-2015 he was at the top of his game representing India on an international level and making strides in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Once he felt that his style of play is no longer suited for modern cricket, Varun Aaron decided to call it a day in 2024 leaving his 152.5 km/hr record to try and stand the test of time.
Umesh Yadav
When we talk about the best players India had to offer throughout the years, Umesh Yadav always finds a place on the list. For years he has been raised for his fitness, swing, and above all else, accuracy. The 152.2 km/hr swing was his fastest ever record, and he had plenty of those. At his peak, he rarely threw balls that went under 150 km/hr. Yadav was instrumental for India’s wins at 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. In 2015 he was the nation’s best wicket taker at the Cricket World Cup. His career lasted from 2010-2023 for the national team, while he played professionally since 2008 and is still active. While it’s hard to see him on this list ever again, Umesh Yadav, was not only the fastest, but one of the best bowlers of his generation. A place well deserved as we wrap up the list of India’s fastest bowlers.
