Mohammed Shami on Monday, 25 March, said that the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are hungry to win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title after KXIP started off their IPL 2019 campaign on winning note, beating the hosts Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 14 runs in Jaipur.
The KXIP started IPL 2018 brilliantly, but failed to make it to the final, though, Shami said they are now eager to turn the table in the tournament and win the maiden title this season.
Shami told Hindustan Times, “Last year KXIP started brilliantly and were leading the points table at the halfway stage. They should have at least reached the final. We need to start afresh. The players are hungry to achieve what they didn’t so last year.”
The 29-year-old has revealed that he has worked on slower balls and yorkers that are effective in T20 cricket nowadays, which is something he is keen to try out in IPL 2019. He further added, “As a senior player one always has to take extra responsibility. I am still in the process in perfecting my ability to bowl yorker and slower ones. Especially in T20 cricket, those are effective tools.”
The seamer further added that he is constantly evolving tactics to his arsenal to make his bowling more effective, adding: “A bowler has always got to stay calm. It’s something to work upon, a long process basically to be smart and work around things. Like there is hardly any reverse swing in T20 cricket. It’s a potent weapon for me. When it doesn’t reverse, I have to look for other ways. Try swinging the ball in the latter overs, improve the variations.”
Meanwhile, Shami, who has had a history with knee injuries in the past, is in touch with the Indian team’s management referring the workload management during the IPL ahead of the World Cup 2019.
The pacer added, “I am in touch with them regarding when to play and when to take rest. In a long tournament like IPL, it’s important to work on fitness on a day-to-day basis and not look too far ahead.”
On World Cup expectations, he said, “Anything can happen in a person’s life at any time. So, there is no point in thinking about what will happen in the future. I like to live in the present and make the most out of it.”
Shami signed off by saying, “Whatever happens I focus 100 percent on the game. That is the only thing that is on my hand. Injuries can happen to anybody. I pray to God that nobody gets injured before the World Cup but you never know. I can only concentrate on the bowling process and on my fitness. Now I am in the IPL and then the World Cup. Obviously, the World Cup is such a big event that it’s always at the back of my mind. Fitness will be primary for me in the IPL.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
