Shami will pick up his rhythm after a couple of games: Ambati Rayudu

The third T20I between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot saw Mohammed Shami returning to international cricket after a long period of 14 months. He opened the bowling and bowled three overs in the game, conceding 25 runs for no wicket.  

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu unpacked what it means for a cricketer to return back to optimal on-field performance after returning from injury, and predicted the right-arm speedster to find his mojo by the conclusion of the T20I series.  

“I think his rhythm builds when he runs well during his run-up and comes to the crease at good speed. Today, I couldn’t see that much. Having confidence about your body is extremely crucial for a player after injury. Players who’ve gone through injury will tell you that it takes time after returning. The body remains in good shape but the confidence in one’s body to put in the extra efforts comes with time. Hence, I feel Shami will pick up his rhythm after a couple of games,” shared Rayudu while speaking on Star Sports.

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'The more he plays, the better he will get' - Chawla on Shami

As a part of the same discussion, Piyush Chawla agreed with Rayudu in relation to Shami.

“When you make a comeback to international cricket after so long, you have butterflies in your stomach. No matter, how much you’ve played in the past, when you come back to the team after a long gap of 436 days, there are bound to be some nerves there. He didn’t look in his usual rhythm, every player takes 1-2 matches. The good thing is that he played a game and bowled three overs and especially, the way he ended his spell. I feel the more he plays, the better he will get,” shared Chawla.

India will feature in a three-match ODI series against the Three Lions after the conclusion of the T20I series. It will be interesting to watch how the team management deploys Shami during the 50-over segment, considering the Champions Trophy on the horizon.