Important to discuss future plan with Shami and Ashwin: Paras Mhambrey

Departing India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes that the time has come for the management to discuss future plans with Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin. Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, hasn’t played a game since then due to injuries and is currently training at the NCA, eyeing a return in September. Ashwin, on the other hand, is an integral part of the Indian Test side and has played over 100 matches in red-ball cricket but being 37-year-old, there’s no guarantee on how long he will be able to contribute.

Mhambrey thinks that the time is now right to invest in youth. He didn’t call for an overhaul but wants the new management under Gautam Gambhir to include Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh and create a blend of youth and experience. Ashwin and Shami, meanwhile, seem to have have no intention of stepping aside, especially with the marquee Test series against Australia lined up and then the World Test Championship final next summer.

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“It's important to have those discussions with Shami and Ashwin about their future plans and then lay out a plan. When we decided to invest in youth, we made sure they were not alone in the park shouldering all responsibilities. Be it Arshdeep or Avesh, we made sure they were always bowling alongside senior bowlers,” Mhambrey told Times of India.

The former cricketer also said that the youngsters shouldn’t be rushed and that there should be a proper plan in place before introducing them in Tests. He added that a youngster often needs four to five years to find his feet in red-ball cricket and wants the team management to give that time to them.

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“You can't put a timeline on that. You have to be patient with it. We started in 2015 and we had that pool by 2020. If you look at Arshdeep's evolution, he played in the U-19 World Cup in 2018 and he was representing India in 2022 before really becoming an integral part in 2024. A young pace bowler takes four-five years to hit his peak. You can't simply rush them through,” said Mhambrey.