Javagal Srinath: News

A fast bowler unlike the likes of those Indian cricket had seen before—that was Javagal Srinath. His ability to bowl consistently at a high pace made him stand out. Hailing from Karnataka, Srinath made his first-class debut in the 1989-90 season and took a hat-trick on his debut. In a first-class career spanning over 13 years, Srinath took 533 wickets. Srinath played his first international match in an ODI against Pakistan in 1991. His Test debut came a month later in the same year against Australia at the Gabba. In an Indian lineup that had Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar, Srinath rarely got a chance in the initial years of his career. Until Kapil Dev's retirement in 1994, Srinath remained a third option. But from 1994 till the time he retired, Srinath was India's leading fast bowler. Known for his in-swingers, Srinath developed more variations that made him a success in India's spin-friendly pitches as well. He played four World Cups and is the joint highest wicket-taker for India in World Cups and the second Indian to take 300 wickets in ODIs. He retired after the 2003 World Cup.