The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride for India pacer Mohammed Shami. From being dropped from the Test team for failing a fitness test in June 2018 to breaking into India’s squad for the upcoming World Cup on the basis of sheer performance, life has had its share of ups and downs for Shami. But the fast bowler doesn’t believe in complaining.
Considered an integral part of India’s red-ball attack inTest cricket, Shami made headlines when he failed the Yo-Yo test at theNational Cricket Academy ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan.However, the same bowler through his grit and determination forced the nationalselectors to bring him back into India’s ODI squad even as they tried otherfast bowlers before handing Shami a comeback.
Life hasn’t been a bed of roses for Shami, but the fastbowler has not let anything come between him and his love for the gentleman’sgame and that shows even in his performance for Kings XI Punjab in this editionof the Indian Premier League.
Speaking to IANS, Shami recounted the horror and also saidthat while everyone spoke about him failing the test, not many realised that hewasn’t even in the frame of mind to take the field at that point in time.
“I had some family problems at that point of time. Thefitness test didn’t go well and I accept that I failed. But then, I wasn’t evenin that frame of mind where I could focus on the match against Afghanistan. I wasn’tmentally prepared and had to undergo the Yo-Yo Test at that point in time and Iflunked,” he explained.
Asked if that bothered him as people suddenly startedtalking about how it could be the start of the end of his internationaljourney, Shami said he took it in his stride and realised that it was importantto let his work do the talking rather than try and shut critics.
“Pressure was there, but I kept myself motivated andtold myself that I have to work on my fitness and come back strongly. I have reduced12-14 kilos since then and you can see that not just in my physical appearance,but it also reflects in the rhythm and momentum that I have found in mybowling,” he pointed.
Rhythm, he has definitely found in recent times and that wasevident in not just his spells in this IPL — 19 wickets in 14 games — butalso in the ODI series that he played against Australia and New Zealand inJanuary and then the home series against the Aussies in March leading up to theT20 league.
For Shami, it was all about reminding people that hiswhite-ball record is just as enviable as his red-ball performances.
“I hadn’t been playing white-ball cricket for a whilebut in the series against Australia, I gained in confidence and just looked tokeep that going even in the IPL. Also, playing consistently for KXIP alsohelped me. Getting to play day-in day-out helps you perform and get the rightmomentum.”I was just waiting for an opportunity as Ihad a good record in white-ball cricket. Waited for almost two years and I hadit in mind that when I did get the chance, I will show what I could do.