5 left-arm fast bowlers have consistently troubled key Indian batters, including a captain and a top-order batsman. These bowlers, known for their swing and pace, have taken critical wickets in important matches, including dismissals in World Cup semi-finals, Asia Cup encounters, and ODI series, making them challenging opponents.
5. Reece Topley
England’s left-arm seamer Reece Topley has become one of the top new-ball bowlers in limited-overs cricket. A standout performance came in 2022 against India at Lord’s, where Topley claimed brilliant figures of 6/22. His spell included key dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, showcasing his skill and precision with the ball.
4. Mohammad Amir
Former Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir had a dominant spell over India’s top order during his peak years in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he impressed with figures of 3/18 and 1/11, though Pakistan lost both matches. However, it was in the 2017 Champions Trophy final where Amir truly shone, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli, delivering a match-winning performance that remains memorable to this day.
3. Mitchell Starc
In March 2023, Mitchell Starc caused significant trouble for Indian batters during the ODI series in India. Despite the conditions not favoring fast bowlers, Starc’s swing, seam, and high pace helped him dismiss Suryakumar Yadav for two golden ducks. He took 3 wickets in Wankhede and 5 wickets in Vizag, playing a key role in Australia’s series victory. Starc also delivered a 6-wicket haul against India at the MCG in 2015 and has 48 Test wickets against them.
2. Trent Boult
Indian fans still remember Trent Boult’s standout performance against India in the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Manchester. Defending just 240 runs, Boult struck early by dismissing India’s captain Virat Kohli in the third over, severely impacting India’s chase. He later removed Ravindra Jadeja, who had scored a half-century. Boult, considered one of the best new-ball swing bowlers globally, also boasts 41 wickets in 10 Tests against India, further cementing his reputation.
1. Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi is widely regarded as one of the best new-ball bowlers in the world today. The left-arm Pakistani pacer has troubled Indian batters on multiple occasions. In the T20 World Cup 2021, he took the crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. More recently, in the Asia Cup 2023, he bowled out both Rohit and Kohli. Known for generating both swing and seam movement at high pace, Shaheen is one of the few pacers capable of excelling in such challenging conditions.