The focus is on Mohammed Shami. In the form that he is in, India will look to him to be top dog come the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, there were three wickets in his opening burst. Time and again, Shami has killed off games in the powerplay itself for Gujarat Titans. And most importantly, he has moved the ball with amazing consistency. Not exaggerated movement. Rather, just enough to make things happen. In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Shami is India’s go-to man to lead the attack.
Frankly, Shami has all the skills required to do so. He has pace, and can get serious movement up front. He can also bowl the yorker, and has great control over line and length. And with some assistance from English conditions in early June, things could just be ideally set up for Shami’s style of bowling.
Shami, one of India’s best bowlers over the last decade, also knows how to handle pressure. He has dealt with trolls, and often been at the receiving end of abuse. Such things don’t bother him anymore, and he knows why he is in the team and what his job is. In fact, he had alluded to this in an interview a few months ago, when he said, “I want to perform for the team in all formats. I am not bothered about the colour of the ball. Anytime the selectors, coaching staff, and captain show faith by giving the ball to me, all I want to do is to fulfill my responsibility as a bowler. I don’t think too much about records and all, or which format I am playing more. If you are playing for India, you have to give your best. That’s it.”
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Yet again for Gujarat on Monday night, it was Shami that stole the show. He was bowling full tilt, and being watched by millions of Indian fans. And each time he picked a wicket, hopes went up. Could he do this at the WTC final?
What has also worked for Shami is the effort he has put in each time he has had time off. The fact that he is in such great rhythm is testament to his dedication over time. “It isn’t rocket science,” he had said. “You have to keep practicing. At times, we practice hard before a tournament or during the tournament, but once we come back home, we tend to take a break. I feel these breaks don’t really help. Rather, it breaks one’s rhythm.
“When we are back from a tour, one should work on their skill more seriously and that’s exactly what I do. I have set up my own training area next to my house, and I can bowl as much as I want and train as much as I want without any problem. This is what I had done during the lockdown as well.
“During tournament breaks, I practice every day till I am satisfied that I have trained enough for the day. This has helped me a lot. Honestly speaking, I have given up on all my indulgences and have to say that’s what explains the fitness and the intensity. I feel much better, and I know that to do what I do for my country, I have to make a few sacrifices. The love and affection I get from Indian cricket fans more than makes up for it.”
Now, it is time to gather the fruits of all that practice, and deliver for India on the biggest stage. India desperately craves a world title, and in Bumrah’s absence, the onus will be on Shami to step up and make a difference at The Oval. On current form, few will argue against that happening.