Ravichandran Ashwin Predicts India's Next Mohammed Shami
Published - 26 Nov 2023, 11:24 AM
Table of Contents
Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed admiration for Mukesh Kumar’s performances for the Indian cricket team in limited opportunities. Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted that Mukesh Kumar has the potential to succeed Mohammed Shami.
Mukesh executed yorkers effectively during the first T20I against Australia in the ongoing series. The right-arm pacer delivered an economical bowling performance in the high-scoring encounter. Although he went wicketless, he conceded just 29 runs in his four overs.
I Call Mohammad Shami Lalettan – Ravichandran Ashwin
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that he considered Mohammad Siraj as the possible successor to Shami. Ashwin commended Mukesh Kumar‘s outstanding performances in the West Indies, emphasizing his excellent wrist position.
“I initially thought Mohammad Siraj would become the junior Shami, but I now feel it could be Mukesh Kumar. Shami is called ‘Lala’ and as a tribute to the actor Mohanlal who is called Lalettan, I call Shami Lalettan,” Ashwin said.
“Mukesh Kumar has a similar build, similar height, outstanding wrist position – he has that great whip of the wrist and terrific back-spin on the ball. He has a very nice straight and nice alignment. He had bowled really well in the series in the West Indies and was outstanding at a practice game in Barbados,” he added.
Those Two Deliveries Changed His Life – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin revealed the story of how Mukesh Kumar caught the attention of former Pakistan legend Waqar Younis at a talent hunt camp in Kolkata. Ashwin said that Younis was impressed with Mukesh after just a couple of deliveries.
“When Ganguly took over Cricket Association of Bengal, he had conducted a talent hunt, he had contracted Waqar Younis, VVS Laxman nand Muttiah Muralitharan for that talent hunt program,” Ashwin further added.
“Imagine, you are going to bowl in front of Waqar Younis, and you were at the toilet. They had called out his name but he wasn’t there! He returned, waited for 30 minutes and told them that his name wasn’t called out.”
“It was then that Waqar Younis, who was about to leave, told him to bowl a couple of balls. Those two deliveries changed his life and he is now bowling for India.”
The second T20I between India and Australia is scheduled to take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, November 26.
Tagged:
India National Cricket Team Mohammed Shami Mohammed Siraj Mukesh Kumar Ravichandran Ashwin Waqar Younis
