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Sachin's bold call on India's quicks

Pace, swing, height and accuracy, India's pace battery has it all according to the 'Little Master'

India captain Virat Kohli will have at his disposal India’s "most complete fast bowling attack in many years" on their tour of England, according to legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

India have not named their Test squad for the five-match series starting August 1 at Edgbaston but with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvenshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma available, Tendulkar is excited about the well-balanced attack that could head to the UK.

"This is the most complete fast bowling attack that India have had in many, many years," Tendulkar said. 

"In my assessment, this attack would go as one of the best.

"We have the luxury where we have a swing bowler (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), a tall bowler (Ishant Sharma), a skiddy bowler (Jasprit Bumrah) and a genuine quick bowler (Umesh Yadav). 

"It is a nice combination to have with so much variation on offer."


Couple that pace attack with spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and India could have the bowling unit to win their first Test series in England since 2007.

Eleven years ago India won 1-0, thanks to Tendulkar’s 91 in India’s seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge, but in the last two tours to England, India have won just one match and lost seven of the other eight.

However, India will benefit from having played in the UK for more than a month before the first Test gets underway, with T20 matches scheduled against Ireland and England, along with a three-match ODI series. 

With the limited-overs series in place ahead of the first Test, Kohli says by the time the Test leg begins, India will have acclimatized to the conditions so much that they won’t feel as though they’re playing away from home. 

"The last time we played (in England in 2014, losing 3-1), we felt that collectively as a team we didn't perform consistently in all three skills," Kohli said last week prior to departing for the UK. 

"Because of that, the batsmen feel the extra pressure, or the bowlers feel the pressure because they feel batsmen aren't doing enough. 

"But when both click together and whether it's swinging or seaming, bounce or turn, if you have momentum, any conditions feel favourable and if you don't have the momentum, flat pitches may also feel tough.

"But yes, the conditions are going to be different, we will have to respect that. 

"By the time the Tests come, we'll be so comfortable that we won't even feel like we'll be playing an away series. 

"So once you spend time there, you get comfortable and that's the biggest factor. If you are at ease mentally, it will show in your performances."

India’s tour of the UK starts tonight in Dublin with a T20 international against Ireland.