3 forgotten Indian fast bowlers and what are they doing now

Indian cricket has produced a steady stream of fast bowlers over the years, and not all of them managed to hold their place in the national side for long. Some played a handful of matches, showed genuine promise and then quietly disappeared from the international picture. Others became part of many historic moments for the Men in Blue but are now waiting to make a comeback for years.

Three such pace bowlers once wore the India jersey and generated real excitement with their speed and ability. Here is a look at where each of them stands as of September 2026.

3. Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Amarjeet Saini was born on November 23 1992 in Karnal, Haryana, and represents Delhi in domestic cricket. A right-arm fast bowler who regularly clocked speeds above 145 km/h, he made his T20I debut for India on August 3 2019 against West Indies and went on to play 11 T20Is, picking up 13 wickets. He also featured in 8 ODIs and 2 Tests, with his last international appearance coming in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. Injuries repeatedly disrupted his progress, and accuracy was never considered his strongest suit. In IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹75 lakh as a direct injury replacement for Harshit Rana. He played just two games for KKR that season and bowled in only one of them, conceding 37 runs in three overs. His overall IPL record across 32 matches stands at 23 wickets at an economy rate of 8.88, with best figures of 3/40. He has not played for India since July 2021.

2. Umesh Yadav

Umeshkumar Tilak Yadav was born on October 25 1987 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and has represented Vidarbha in domestic cricket since 2008. He made his ODI debut for India on May 28 2010 against Zimbabwe and went on to become a regular Test bowler, earning 57 Test caps over a career that stretched from 2011 to June 2023. His last Test appearance came on June 7 2023 against Australia. In domestic cricket, he produced a memorable Ranji Trophy semi-final performance in January 2019 against Kerala, taking match figures of 12/79 to help Vidarbha reach the final. In the IPL, he represented several franchises including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans in 2024. He has not been part of any IPL squad in 2025 or 2026, and has not represented India since June 2023.

3. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is one of the rare Indian fast bowlers to have played 100-plus Test matches. In 105 Tests, he picked up 311 wickets. From 80 ODIs, he bagged 115 scalps. Meanwhile, in the shortest format, he accounted for eight wickets. The 38-year-old Sharma was a part of the Gujarat Titans’ squad in IPL 2026. However, he didn’t get to play a game. Sharma’s last international appearance came way back in November 2021. He is among the most popular active fast bowlers in Indian cricket because he has been a part of many iconic moments in his career with the Men in Blue.