India’s senior speedster Mohammad Shami believes that the Indian cricket team won’t suffer from the retirement of the current pace attack when the time comes as the backup is ready and the youngsters are ready to take over from them while hailing the young fast-bowlers’ performance on the Australia tour.
The current Indian pace attack comprising Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah is regarded as one the best in the world and best ever in Indian cricket history till now.
This pace bowling attack has been instrumental in India’s success both at home and away over the years especially in Test cricket.
However, during the Australia tour, India’s young guns like Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan, and Washington Sundar stole the show and won the Test series for India in the absence of senior pacers with Shami, Bumrah, and Umesh getting injured during the 4-Tests series.
Siraj was to make his Test debut in Australia, but Shardul, Natarajan, and Sundar were the net bowlers for India and the way they played in Australia when the injuries offered them unexpected opportunities.
Their performances left everyone in awe and Shami said it showed that the transition will be smooth when the current attack takes over from the seniors and will be completely ready until the time of their retirement.
Shami told the Press Trust of India on Wednesday (March 31): “The youngsters will be ready to take over from us when our time (to retire comes). The more they play, the better they will get. I think the transition will be very smooth whenever we are done with the game.”
He added, “The team won’t suffer even if one big name retires. The bench is ready. Experience is always required and the youngsters will have that in due time. The trend of carrying net bowlers in the bubble environment has helped them massively and given them valuable exposure.”
On what impressed him the most about the likes of Siraj and Thakur, the pacer said: “Whoever comes in has an open mind, talks frankly and is supremely confident. They are ready to bowl with the new ball or old ball.
The way they performed in Australia shows their character. Beating Australia in Australia once is a very big achievement; we were able to do it twice, that too with no senior bowlers around. It has shown we can rely on the youngsters.”
Meanwhile, Shami also sheds light on his relationship with Ishant, “What do I say about him. He is the best guy around. Doesn’t give you the feeling that he has played double of what you have played. When I had come in, he had already played about 50 games.
Since day one he never behaved like a senior. He likes mingling and laughing around. His behavior has taught me to how to treat a youngster. When a youngster joins, it is imperative that an established player talks to him about everything under the sun, it lifts his confidence. If you have someone like Ishant around, I don’t you think can feel down for a long time.”
The 30-year-old further noted about the bond the Indian pacers share, “It is a game of confidence and how you can execute plans. We have different skills, Ishant, Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah), and I and we keep reminding each other of our respective skills and persist with them.
We are pushed by each other when we are tired. This fast-bowling group is just wonderful. The last four-five years with them have been really special. We have enjoyed each other’s success and this is something you should learn from the Indian team. There are no talks behind the back.”
Well, Shami is now just focusing on getting fitter as a cricketer after returning from a wrist injury ahead of the IPL 2021. He missed Australia Tests and the recent home series against England.
He concluded, “Skill stays with you so I just try to better my fitness. The training schedule changed massively post 2014 and the way I have changed my eating habits (no more biryani) is also a big achievement.”
(With PTI Inputs)
