Mohammed Shami had a prison-breaking IPL season with Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), winning Super Overs and bowling well with the new ball and leading a young pace attack. But, now he is focusing on repeating India’s magic of 2018-19 in Australia.
Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were the key players to India’s 2-1 series which led win to their side and he’s putting in the hard again as India have started their training staying in quarantine in Sydney.
“My focus area has been the red ball and I am working on my lengths and seam movement,” Shami told BCCI.tv. “I have always felt that once you start pitching the ball at the lengths you desire, you can succeed in different formats. What you need is control. I have done well with the white ball and now spending time in the nets bowling with the red ball. You don’t bowl in the same area since both formats are different, but your basics don’t change much.”
Since recovering from a threatening knee injury, Mohammed Shami has played in 27 out of India’s 30 Tests since July 2017.
The success of this group is largely because of the camaraderie we share among ourselves,” he said. “There is no real secret as such but it lies in each other’s strengths. We have a common goal and all of us look to collectively achieve that.
“There is healthy competition but there is no rivalry within the group. If you look at the numbers, we have managed to pick 20 wickets almost on all our away tours. Even at home in the Freedom Trophy [against South Africa] or the pink-ball Test [against Bangladesh], the fast bowling group was very effective. We have a lot of discussion among ourselves. We hunt in pairs,” he added further.
Before the start of the IPL, Mohammed Shami trained himself in the farm during the lockdown. But, he revealed that his hardwork has payed off and has helped him get back to line. “My performances for KXIP in IPL has given me a lot of confidence and put me in the right zone. The biggest advantage is that I can now prepare for the upcoming series without any pressure. There is no burden on me. I am very comfortable at the moment. I had worked hard on my bowling and my fitness in the lockdown. I knew that IPL would take place sooner or later and I was preparing myself for it.”
Mohammed Shami has been picked in both white-ball squads as well, but it’s the Test series he is more focused on.
