Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif says Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in the current Indian squad may have benefited young players like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. Shami hasn’t played an international game since India overcame New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
In the present ODI series, India has got its pace triumvirate of Arshdeep, Harshit, and Prasidh. Before being picked, the three pacers had a combined experience of 37 ODIs. With seniors such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being rested in this series, Kaif reckons that Shami would have served as an ideal coach for budding fast bowlers, who can watch how he bowls under pressure.
“The question is valid. No matter what kind of pitch it is, a bowler like Shami does not care if it is flat. He has so much class that he finds ways to pick wickets there as well. I don’t know why he is not playing still, because Bumrah and Siraj have been rested. The young pacers would also benefit from his presence. There is no senior pacer to tell the likes of Prasidh, Harshit, and Arshdeep what to do under pressure. India missed this,” said Kaif in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
The ‘Men in Blue’ also did well with the bat in the opening ODI, at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex, with passion-chasing Virat Kohli hitting 135 runs in 120 balls. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma chipped in with half-centuries as India posted a mammoth 349/8 after being invited to bat.
In reply, the Proteas fell to 2/26 in their second over when Harshit made short work of Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. Arshdeep also accounted for Aiden Markram, who was sent packing in the fifth over. Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis both departed after getting their eye in, and the tourists were struggling at 130 for five in the 22nd over.
But Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch added some fluent half-centuries to keep South Africa in the game. The inexperienced fast bowlers stumbled towards the end, but Prasidh got rid of Bosch in the penultimate over to seal a 17-run win for India.
