Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lavished praise on debutant Anshul Kamboj following the pacer’s inclusion in the Indian playing XI for the fourth Test against England in Manchester.
Ashwin, who had previously backed the 24-year-old, believes Kamboj belongs to the rare breed of fast bowlers who combine skill with a deep understanding of bowling plans, similar to the likes of Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah.
Kamboj was handed his maiden Test cap after injuries ruled out all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh. He had impressed in the build-up to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with solid performances for India A against England Lions.
“The appreciable thing about Anshul is that he understands the plan. I have seen so many fast bowlers if you ask them about the plan, they just say they want to express themselves and enjoy the game,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“But Anshul understands plans and also knows how to execute in the middle. It’s not a trait many fast bowlers possess. Zaheer Khan was one of them. He was amazing.
“In recent times, Jassi (Bumrah) is one player who understands the plans and executes them to perfection. Anshul belongs to that variety. I’m not comparing skills because skills are a very different thing,” he added.
Kamboj, who showcased his ability to generate bounce and late movement during the India A games in Northampton and Canterbury, picked up five wickets across four innings in those matches. Ashwin highlighted the youngster’s consistent length and clean wrist position.
“He has a very good tappa (right length). I have seen that in the IPL. His wrist position is very good, and he delivers a very upright seam. He never leaves his tappa,” Ashwin noted.
“With Bumrah and Siraj there, if you are bringing in Anshul Kamboj into the playing XI, I’m telling you, it’s a serious bowling attack.”
Ashwin reiterated that Kamboj, who had taken a 10-wicket haul in an innings against Kerala in a Ranji Trophy match last year, is in “cracking form” and possesses the stamina to bowl long spells, an attribute crucial for English conditions.
“People will say that Anshul will play his first Test. He hasn’t played in England, but he was there in the A tour. He has been in cracking form in first-class cricket. He is averaging around 13. He took 10 wickets in an innings,” he said.
“Anshul has a habit of bowling long spells. You need that in England. He will be a good foil for Bumrah and Siraj. Prasidh is an option, but I would go for Anshul. We were impressed with him. His wrist is really good.”
However, Ashwin did caution that the Indian management must help the youngster settle in mentally, now that he’s made his debut.
“One thing the management will have to look after is to calm Anshul’s nerves,” he said.