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Paras Mhambrey, who served as India’s bowling coach until the T20 World Cup, has raised significant concerns regarding the struggles of India’s emerging bowlers in the fast-paced and competitive landscape of modern cricket.
During his tenure alongside Rahul Dravid, Mhambrey played a pivotal role in nurturing several promising talents such as Umran Malik, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Shivam Mavi. However, he noted with disappointment that these young cricketers have found themselves at a crossroads in their careers.
Umran Malik, following an impressive IPL 2022 season and a brief stint in international cricket, has unfortunately faded from the limelight. Similarly, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, both groomed initially by KKR, have struggled to secure regular playing time across various franchises.
Highlighting the challenges faced by these bowlers, Mhambrey pointed out that injuries have significantly disrupted their progress. For instance, Shivam Mavi’s absence from IPL 2024 due to injury underscores the fragility of their careers.
Regarding Umran Malik specifically, Mhambrey suggested that a change in strategy might be necessary. He emphasized the importance of playing domestic cricket in a setup that offers a robust structure, implying that shifting from Jammu & Kashmir to another state could potentially benefit Malik’s development.
Mhambrey’s observations underline the harsh realities of professional cricket, where talent alone is often insufficient to navigate the complexities of sustained success.
“I won’t say disappointed, but someone like Umran (Malik). We need to guide him. He needs to play for a state which has proper structure. Unfortunately, he is playing for a state where there is no proper structure. Playing for a state with a proper structure, playing a lot of cricket will definitely help him. We need someone to make that call for him and make sure that he plays for a state where he plays a lot of cricket. He has the potential, a quick guy who can bowl in the mid-140s. consistently, but someone to guide him at this stage and saying, okay, fine, just play cricket and how do we take this, take his game forward,” Mhambrey told Sportstar.
He also discussed the young Indian pacers Nagarkoti and Mavi, highlighting how injuries have been a significant factor in curtailing their opportunities at the international level.
“Others like (Kamlesh) Nagarkoti and (Shivam) Mavi have been lost in all this and maybe overlooked by the associations or over-bowled by the associations. Over-bowled is perhaps the right word, and that’s a little concern because a lot of these guys, when they come into the India team, are really burned by their state teams. So we have to be a little smart with them,” the 52-year-old added.
During his tenure as bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey groomed several young Indian pacers, though challenges persisted with talents like Malik, Nagarkoti, and Mavi due to recurring injuries. However, under his guidance, bowlers such as Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar made successful international debuts and showcased commendable performances.
Notably, Mhambrey played a crucial role in shaping the skills of established bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, who evolved into a formidable bowling trio under his mentorship.
Looking ahead, Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed India coach, has brought on board former South African pacer Morne Morkel as the next bowling coach. Morkel previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach during the ODI World Cup 2023, adding experience and fresh insights to the Indian bowling setup.
