Regardless of the situation or the format, Mohammed Shami is the go-to fast bowler for the Indian cricket team. Shami has assumed the lead position in the Indian pace attack in place of the injured Jasprit Bumrah. Shami has always put up his hand whenever India has required a seasoned fast bowler in whatever format. Shami has been an all-weather player for India and a delight for captains, whether it was filling in at the last minute for a player who had not played in the 20-20 World Cup in over a year or putting up a passionate performance with the old ball on barren pitches in home Test matches.
After doing admirably well in the three Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami quickly adjusted back to playing white-ball cricket. He breathed fire with the ball in the first ODI against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He ran through Australia’s middle order by picking up the wickets of Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis.
Mohammed Shami returned with a three-wicket haul against Australia in first ODI
On Friday, Shami’s 3/17 in 6 overs helped India dismiss Australia for 188. Early in the chase, India did lose a few wickets, but KL Rahul (75*) and Ravindra Jadeja (45*) set up an unbroken century partnership to lead India to victory.
After the match, Shami was questioned whether ODI cricket has gotten increasingly tough for bowlers as hitters all across the globe take advantage of the flat pitches. Shami replied, “There are a lot of add-ons in white-ball cricket. You get a free hit for a no-ball, and then you can’t get out too. Toh bowlers ke against mein kafi cheezein hai (There are things against the bowlers). It changes according to the format. But as far as our team is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are playing at home or abroad. I don’t think there is any question mark on the Indian team. Hum kisi bhi condition mein honge, hum sabse age hai. Hume kar ke bhi dikhaya hai. humne unko ghar pe jake bhi haraya hai toh apne ghar mein toh sochne ka sawal hi nahi hai (We are ahead of every team irrespective of the conditions. We have shown it in the past, too. We have beaten them in their backyard, so there is no question of worrying when we are playing at home).”
