Indian cricket has always been known for producing some great batters and spin bowlers but grooming exciting fast bowlers was not India’s forte. But after 2010, the craze of bowling fast in India has augmented which saw the rise of some raw fast bowlers like Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, etc. Now India doesn’t have to rely too much on spinners to win a match. Indian captain knows that they have a pool of decent fast bowlers who can give tough times to the batters and register a win for india. Bowlers who can consistently clock over 140 km/hr at any given point of the match. Let’s have a look at the fastest ball by an Indian in international cricket.
Umran Malik
The “Jammu Express” Umran Malik tops the tally of the fastest ball by an Indian in international cricket. Umran clocked 156 km in the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on 10th January 2023, a full-length delivery on the offside to Charith Asalanka who drove the ball for two runs. Just after 7 days of being the quickest bowler in Indian cricket history, Umran shattered his own record of bowling 155 km/hr, which he ticked in the 1st T20 against Sri Lanka on 3rd January 2023.
Umran Malik
The rising talent of Indian cricket Umran Malik has also bowled the 2nd fastest ball by Indian in international cricket. He created history on 3rd January 2023 in the 1st T20 against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium when he bowled a full 155 km/hr ball around off to get the prize wicket of Lankan skipper Dasun Sanaka who was batting at 45. Umran bowled over 145 km/hr throughout the match on good line and length.
Javagal Srinath
The highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs among pacers, Javagal Srinath gets 2nd place on the list of fastest ball by an Indian in international cricket. Srinath was probably the quickest Indian bowler in the 90s who could bowl over 140 km/hr. Srinath touched 154.5 km/hr speed during the 1999 World Cup which remained the fastest ball by an Indian until Umran broke it in 2023.
Jasprit Bumrah
One of the best all-format bowlers in the current era, Jasprit Bumrah registered 153.36 km/hr during the test series against Australia in 2018, which is considered the 3rd fastest ball by Indian in international cricket. The unorthodox fast bowler from Gujarat can bowl regularly above 140 km/hr in every format of the game, which has assisted him to take over 300 wickets so far in international cricket.
Mohammad Shami
The 32 year old speedster from Uttar Pradesh Mohammad Shami claims the 4th spot in terms of bowling the fastest delivery by an Indian in international cricket with his 153.3 km/hr ball against Australia in the 2014 test series. Shami is prominent for his sheer pace with the upright seam position and has grabbed 392 wickets so far at the highest level.
Ishant Sharma
From an early age, Delhi-born Ishant Sharma used to bowl quick. Sharma bowled the 5th fastest ball by an Indian in international cricket in the 2008 Commonwealth Bank series, clocking 152.6 km/hr mark against Adam Gilchrist. Ishant was picked up in the Indian side for his golden run in Ranji Trophy 2006-07.
| Player | Fastest Ball (km/hr) | Against | Year |
| U Malik | 156 | Sri Lanka | 2023 |
| U Malik | 155 | Sri Lanka | 2023 |
| J Srinath | 154.5 | Pakistan | 1999 |
| J Bumrah | 153.36 | Australia | 2018 |
| M Shami | 153.3 | Australia | 2014 |
| I Sharma | 152.6 | Australia | 2008 |
Umran Malik has bowled the fastest ball as an Indian in international cricket (156 km/hr).
Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest ball in cricket history (161.3 km/hr) against England in 2003.
You can read a great book by Shoaib Akhtar called “Controversially Yours“
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
Contact me at info@skyblogs.in