As the ICC World Cup is around the corner, India is considered as one of the favourites along with England and Australia. With a balanced side in batting and bowling, it is quite possible that they might qualify for the knockout stages. They have the pace bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, who are in formidable forms. However, Mohammed Shami has returned with a bang in white-ball cricket recently and will play important roles for India.
“In the last 20 or 30 years, if you look back at the history of Indian cricket, it has always been dominated by the batsmen. You cannot really blame the bowlers because the wickets that were prepared in India were also not helpful towards the bowlers. Things have started improving in the last five to seven years and to be honest it has been a process and not something that has happened overnight. We have been bowling as a unit and that helps,” Shami said to IANS.
“The best part is that along with variety, we have an attack that can bowl fast. Having skills and pace together is the USP of this side as that somewhere increases the confidence of the attack. To be honest, it is like a dream that has come true and I feel very proud that today people talk about our bowling unit as one of the best — a thing that wasn’t heard much, but is now called our strength,” he added.
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Shami shared that he was in constant touch with Patrick Farhart, the Indian team physio during the recently concluded Indian Premier League.
“I don’t believe in making too many changes and neither do I underwork or overwork my body. Had been constantly in touch with the physio and whatever I feel, I always tell the physio honestly so that the team doesn’t suffer. No team should suffer due to an individual. So, I believe it is important that you keep a transparent relation with the doctor and physio in the team so that they know how exactly the body is working. This understanding in the Indian team is really good and that helps,” he said.
“I hadn’t been playing white-ball cricket for a while but in the series against Australia, I gained in confidence and just looked to keep that going even in the IPL. Also, playing consistently for KXIP helped me. Getting to play day-in day-out helps you perform and get the right momentum,” he added.
“I was just waiting for an opportunity as I had a good record in white-ball cricket. Waited for almost two years and I had it in mind that when I did get the chance, I will show what I could do. Always knew that I can adapt to the shorter format and bowl the line and length required to succeed,” he further expressed.
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The mega event is going to take place from May 30 in England while India will play their first game on June 5 against South Africa at the Rose Bowl, Southampton.
