Anil Kumble heaps praise on returning Mohammad Shami

Anil Kumble might have brought in sweeping changes in terms of bringing in a new regime as well as a new approach to the game. Whenever the team arrives at a new destination, they will have a long practice session before an optional nets session a day before the start of the Test match. However, what is impressive to see from Kumble is the fact that the bowlers have started to fire on all cylinders as the Indian pacer bowling regime of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammad Shami has taken most of the wickets in both matches.

Even the performance of Ravichandran Ashwin in overseas conditions has improved drastically. However, as far as the coach is concerned, one player who has stood out from the current crop of players is Mohammad Shami. With a plethora of Test matches to come, fitness will be the key to Shami, who is making his comeback to cricket after an injury layoff after almost 18 months.

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“Coming back after 18 months is not easy. It’s not easy for a fast bowler after an injury, and I am really pleased that he has a comeback. He is an important cog for us. We don t want to look too far ahead but the workload is something we are aware of,” said Kumble after the second Test. “In the last Test in Antigua, the bowlers bowled back to back. So we try and take workload in training sessions with respect to what happened in the match. So far it has worked really well and I am really happy for Shami that he has come back really well. He is important to us.”

“I think he feels a lot stronger now and his rhythm has been good. The problem was with his knee, which was affecting his run up. Once that was sorted and he was fit, came back was okay then. Fast bowling is all about rhythm and the run-up. Once he got the rhythm I think the confidence came back. We have seen from the start of the Antigua Test to now, his confidence is far greater,” the coach added.

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