Team India pace bowler Mohammed Shami has said that he isn’t bothered about not being a certainty in the ODI playing XI despite being one of the senior members of the team as well. The veteran also added that team goals always come first, and for that, someone or the other will have to sit out as well. However, Shami registered his career-best ODI figures of 5/51 in the first ODI against Australia in Mohali on Friday as well.

The pacer said at a post-match press conference: “This is a part and parcel of the game. It’s important to understand the team’s needs. It isn’t possible that you’ll always be part of the playing XI and team combinations. When we play regularly, someone or the other will have to sit out. There is no point being frustrated about it. Obviously it’s good if you’re in the XI but it’s also crucial to be understanding when on the bench. That role is also very important.”

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Notably, his brilliant spell restricted Australia to 276. They then took the team home with ease, courtesy of half-centuries from Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, captain KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav. With the win, the Indian team also became the No. 1 ranked side across formats. However, India have been resting their players on a frequent basis in the build-up to the World Cup where Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav were not picked for the first two matches alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma while Siraj did not play the first ODI as well.

“The idea from the team management is to rotate according to the conditions and the situation, or depending on the opposition. They know how to handle it and if you see, the recent results have been quite good. The rotation is going smoothly and before the World Cup, I don’t think anyone should be burdened a lot. It’s good for us because rotating pacers is key in such conditions. It’s more important for bowlers, not that it’s easier for batters but still. Rotation is important especially before ICC tournaments. It particularly helps those who haven’t been in rhythm to get some much-needed game time,” Mohammed Shami concluded.