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Who's the best Indian bowler ever?

Who's the best Indian bowler ever?


  • Total voters
    45

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Chandra > Prasanna surely?

And as you say, on a turner (which, being India, you'd hope it would be) Bedi > both of them.
 

Mermaidman

Cricket Spectator
I voted for Javagal because simply he was one of the most underated bowlers on the world stage in an era of McGraths,Pollocks,Donalds,Goughs etc
 

archie mac

International Coach
Why?

Bedi's record is better in almost all departments.
Just from what I have read (and watched on video), he seems to have a great control and 'thinks' the batsman out. The reason I prefer Warne over McGrath as well.

Every Aust bio I have read that played against him thought him the best of the Indian bowlers.

I did not see a lot of the famous four bowling when at their peak, and I never go 100% by stats, so what I read counts a lot, if a number of Test greats say someone was the best spinner they faced then I think that is a very strong case:)
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Just from what I have read (and watched on video), he seems to have a great control and 'thinks' the batsman out. The reason I prefer Warne over McGrath as well.
Bedi had great control too though. And what does it matter whether someone thinks the batsman out, spins them out or whatever, if they do the job?

And Bedi, by-and-large, did the job better than Prasanna. Quite why anyone would rate Prasanna the better I just don't understand. And only if I got some reasons would I do so.
 

archie mac

International Coach
Bedi had great control too though. And what does it matter whether someone thinks the batsman out, spins them out or whatever, if they do the job?

And Bedi, by-and-large, did the job better than Prasanna. Quite why anyone would rate Prasanna the better I just don't understand. And only if I got some reasons would I do so.
If someone thinks the batsman out, i enjoy it much more. I always try and work out what plan the bowler has to dismiss the batsman, that to me, is the real enjoyment of watching cricket:)

Most of his contemporaries rated him the better, that is all I ever really care about:)
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
If someone thinks the batsman out, i enjoy it much more. I always try and work out what plan the bowler has to dismiss the batsman, that to me, is the real enjoyment of watching cricket:)
I certainly enjoy it too, I've always liked a thinking bowler. However, one can think as much as you want and if someone has superior ability they can still be a better bowler.
Most of his contemporaries rated him the better, that is all I ever really care about:)
So I've recently begun to hear; what I want to know is, why? Because he was the most talented, or because he performed best?
 

archie mac

International Coach
I certainly enjoy it too, I've always liked a thinking bowler. However, one can think as much as you want and if someone has superior ability they can still be a better bowler.

So I've recently begun to hear; what I want to know is, why? Because he was the most talented, or because he performed best?
They found him most difficult to keep out, was always at the batsman:)
 

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
The only time that I ever saw Bishen bat was in Gooch's Test, and, although laughably ungainly, the turbaned genius swung lustily and hit up a fair few valuable runs.
Bedi played just one proper cricketing shot. A left-foot-forward-big-cleanswing-and-flamboyant-follow-through cover/extra-cover drive. When the ball, his feet, the bat and the planets were in the right place and he did connect, it was a magnificient shot.

Unfotunately it was soooo rare. But when he did it, he would walk back to his crease in great 'style', arms swinging by his side and his hips swaying from side to side even more pronuncedly than usual.:)
 

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