In a pleasant news for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) fans, veteran pacer Mohammad Shami is expected to bowl at full throttle in the 2021 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).
Notably, Shami had resumed “low-intensity” bowling at the National Cricket Academy in February after recovering significantly from the wrist injury.
Speaking to Sportstar, PBKS coach Anil Kumble confirmed that Shami is fine and likely to feature in Punjab’s opening fixture of the IPL 2020.
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“He is fine as far as I know. He is coming to the bio-bubble for the quarantine and he will be out in a few days. I know he hasn’t played any matches since his injury but he is good to go. We are really looking forward to him playing a few practice games and then getting ready for the first game,” Kumble said on Friday (March 26).
Shami had copped a blow on his wrist from Pat Cummins’ short delivery during India’s second innings debacle at Adelaide on December 19. The injury was so severe that it ruled him out of the remaining Border-Gavaskar Trophy fixtures Down Under. Subsequently, he returned home for extensive rehabilitation programme at the NCA.
Apart from Shami, Punjab Kings have exciting fast bowlers such as Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel and Darshan Nalkande along with the seasoned Chris Jordan in their ranks.
All-rounder Moises Henriques, who was bought for INR 4.2 crore, is a handy seam bowling option as well.
Considering the humid conditions in India, the Punjab management might rotate the fast bowlers to manage their workload.
“I think in the smaller auctions, people tend to forget that the options are minimal. Every team wants to reinforce and fill the gaps and since the options are lesser, you tend to spend a lot more on the players. We wanted to have a squad which gives us options in case we want to rotate a few of our fast bowlers. Even our young Indian pacers are exciting. It is a fairly long tournament and the conditions will be pretty hot,” Kumble remarked.
He also made it clear that KL Rahul will don the wicketkeeping gloves ahead of Nicholas Pooran and Prabhsimran Singh.
“K. L. will be starting as a wicketkeeper and then, we will take a call. He did a great job last year and he will continue this year as well.”
In the previous edition, Punjab lost quite a few matches from the jaws of victory and failed to qualify for the play-offs. No wonder, Kumble wants his wards to close the games this season.
“We should have closed out a few games. We were in a winning position. Even in the five consecutive wins last year, we took it right till the end. The other area, of course, where we can do better is our death bowling. And with the options we have, I am hopeful we will be able to fill the gap.”
Punjab Kings will open their IPL 2021 campaign against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 12 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
