IPL 2020: Workload management important for pacers in hot UAE, says Mohammad Shami 

Shami stressed on the challenge of adjusting to the overhead conditions in the gulf.

Mohammad Shami | APKings XI Punjab's (KXIP) experienced Indian pacer Mohammad Shami realises apart from the performance pressure, one of the challenges for him to overcome will be maintaining fitness levels in hot and humid conditions in UAE over the next two months. 

Ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), whose sixty matches will be divided across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in high temperatures and on unhelpful tracks, Shami said fast bowlers like him have their work cut out. 

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"Temperature is much higher compared to India. There are chances of getting dehydrated. There will be chances of cramps. So we will have to keep those things in mind," Shami told IANS in an interview from Dubai. 

"It will be difficult as the wickets here are also different. So workload management is important. But it is not that difficult that it can't be managed. It depends on us how we manage our workload."

"It felt great getting out of home and coming to Dubai. We are all grateful to play the game which we all love. So the feeling cannot be compared. The best part is that everyone is on the field and training. In India, IPL should bring smiles to the faces of all," he added. 

A crucial cog in the Kings XI wheel, their first-choice Indian seamer, Shami, however, isn't feeling too weighted with expectations. 

"I don't take pressure of being a senior in the side. You should believe in your skill and back yourself."

"I always try to share my knowledge with all my teammates at any level. It can be IPL, while playing for India or even at the club level. I like to talk about the team rather than myself."

Neither has the pacer pre-set any goal for himself to achieve through the tournament. Shami just wants to contribute as much as he can playing under newly-appointed captain KL Rahul and hopes to lift Kings XI's maiden trophy. 

"I don't believe in any goal. I believe in performing according to the demand of the situation. I always try to do better than what I am doing."

"Always try to better myself. I tell coaches also, I don't have a goal. I like to perform as per the role given to me and to the best of my ability."

After the IPL, Shami will be travelling to Australia with the Indian team in their quest to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a task made more difficult with the comebacks of Steve Smith, David Warner than the 2018-19 season when they created history.

"We have beaten them before. You cannot say somebody was not there so it was easier and all that," Shami said. "Now we can also think, if we had this bowler, it would have been good and so on."

"As per situation and current form, you need to plan. That matters more. If you compare both teams, they are strong. It matters how well you execute at the end of the day," he concluded. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Sep, 2020

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