India's quest for a genuinely quick bowler appears to have ended after Munaf Patel's fairy-tale run from the village green to a promising international debut.
Patel, 22, grabbed seven wickets on debut in India's second Test victory over England in Mohali, sharing the bowling honours with seasoned leg spinner Anil Kumble, who took nine.
He added three more scalps in the final Test in Mumbai, which England won by 212 runs to draw the series 1-1, and earned a spot in the one-day series starting on Tuesday. "We've faced a few (fast) bowlers, so it's nice to have someone who can give it back," said delighted Indian captain Rahul Dravid after India's victory in the second test.
The son of a small-time cotton farmer with rugged good looks, Patel has finally realised his dream - to play for India and bowl fast.
Nicknamed "Lagaan" bhai (brother) by his teammates, he stunned English batsmen in Mohali, producing fast reverse-swing, yorkers and awkward bouncers, at times clocking over 90mph (145kph).
Lagaan, meaning 'tax', was an Oscar-nominated 2001 Bollywood hit film based on the story of a young man who leads a rag-tag cricket side to victory over a team of British colonial officials and wins his village an exemption from punishing farm taxes.
The film centres around a village in Patel's home state of Gujarat in western India.
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