New Delhi: India pace star Mohammed Shami was seen bowling at full tilt at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after the conclusion of the first Test between India and New Zealand on Sunday. He bowled for more than an hour on one of the main surfaces at the ground and also notably took part in the fielding drills, continuing his work towards a comeback from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since November last year.
A short video went viral on social media where the 34-year-old quick bowler was seen bowling to India assistant and batting coach Abhishek Nayar with heavy strapping on his left knee. Bowling coach Morne Morkel kept a sharp eye over the session. In the video, it didn’t seem as if he was in any discomfort as he bowled continuously and only took a break for the fielding drill near to the boundary.
As per media reports, his bowling session began at around 2:30 pm when almost two hours had passed since the first Test’s conclusion. He sent down a few warm-up deliveries and went on to mark his full run-up, using it for the rest of his practice. When Nayar was off the pitch, Morkel placed cones on the track and stood behind the wickets as Shami continued to bowl. He wrapped up his session at somewhere around 3:50 pm.
It is worth noting that Shami also bowled after the end of play on Day 2 (Thursday) on one of the practice pitches at one of the boundary ends of the ground. The video of the same too went viral on the internet as Shami bowled for 45 minutes, involving both short and long run-ups. Shami seen bowling after India’s loss is indeed a contrasting factor, giving the Indian fans some positivity and a glimmer of hope amidst the heartbreaking defeat at the hands of NZ who won a Test in India after 36 years.
Here’s the latest video of Shami bowling at Chinnaswamy –
MOHAMMAD SHAMI BOWLING. 🔥pic.twitter.com/5DQiB4rU0A
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 20, 2024
Positive signs for BGT
If not for anything, Shami seen bowling at full tilt not once but twice brings positive signs for Team India which is to tour Australia for the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) that begins on November 22. Shami, who was last seen bowling at the 2023 ODI World Cup for India, has left the Indian team with the two main pacers – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have been carrying the load of the team in the whites.
Specifically, Bumrah, who does as much he can do for the team as possible on his own, he indeed requires a support system for an important series like the BGT which too an away Test series. Although Siraj is a decent support for him, having Shami on his side will bolster his pace department and also India’s chances of beating the mighty Aussies. What Shami can do with his lethal pace is well versed and if combined with the skillful Bumrah, both can plot Australia’s misery.
Siraj alone won’t be enough for Bumrah which makes Shami’s presence in the Indian team all the more important for the BGT. Rohit Sharma, ahead of the first Test, talked in depth about Shami and his injury, saying that the Indian management needs to be careful with him, not rushing his recovery process and taking an “uncooked Shami” with them. Rohit was obviously being afraid of any more setbacks with the pacer but now that he is bowling at full tilt, things are all the more positive for the Men in Blue.
