According to Mohammed Shami, Indian seamers are always pining for favourable pitches like the one they had in the first ODI against England on Tuesday, July 12.
In the opening game at The Oval, Team India asked the hosts to bat first after winning the toss and bowled them out for for 110 runs. Jasprit Bumrah (6/19) was the main wrecker, but Shami also contributed with figures of 3/31 in his seven overs.
We Have Been Longing To Get Such Wickets: Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami was asked how many deliveries it took for him to see that this was going to be a fast bowler’s day during a post-game interview with Sony Sports. He responded:
“You can call it greed or happiness from inside. You get such wickets very rarely because since the time this unit of ours has been formed and our pace attack has become good, we have been longing to get such wickets or that we should start playing on such wickets.”
The Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer noted that on such conditions, Indian bowlers have very little opportunity to get the ball to talk. Shami observed:
“We don’t get this ever, we get such chances at times luckily, that we won the toss and the way the ball was going from the pitch, it is a different feeling that the ball is going to do something now.”
Bumrah was responsible for four dismissals during his opening period, but Shami removed Ben Stokes for a golden duck at the other end. In his second pitch, the Bengali bowler also struck out Craig Overton and Jos Buttler, thereby breaking England’s resistance.
A Bowler Who Can Do Well In Tests, Can Do So In ODIs As Well: Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami was also questioned if he used the first ODI to express all of his frustration from the Test match. He replied:
“My attempt is always that whatever responsibility is given to me I fulfill that. A bowler who can do well in Tests, can do so in ODIs as well. There is not much difference, just the difference of the ball, you just need to be skillful and have the smartness. I don’t think it is that difficult, you don’t have to make too many changes.”
The 31-year-old was further questioned regarding his exclusion from India’s T20I lineup. Shami observed:
“Doesn’t matter, I don’t mind anything. The only thing is that as many days I play, till the time I am in the team and given the responsibility, I will give a hundred percent from my side. It doesn’t matter who decides what or what not.”
Since the T20 World Cup last year, Mohammed Shami has not appeared in a T20 International match for Team India. The right-arm bowler didn’t exactly blow everyone away during Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2022 title-winning run, but it doesn’t appear that the selectors are considering him for the forthcoming T20 World Cup later this year.
