‘Mohammed Shami Is More Important Than Jasprit Bumrah’

Legendary West Indies cricketer Andy Roberts has recently praised Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, declaring him “India’s best bowler.” This statement comes at a time when Shami’s participation in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is uncertain due to injury concerns. Roberts, a member of the famous West Indies pace quartet that included Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft, emphasized Shami’s all-around abilities, stating that while Jasprit Bumrah may have more wickets, Shami is a more complete package due to his control and ability to seam and swing the ball both ways.

Andy Roberts’ Insights on Mohammed Shami

In an interview with Mid-day, Roberts elaborated on his admiration for Shami. He noted that “Shami has been India’s best bowler for a while,” highlighting that despite Bumrah’s wicket-taking prowess, Shami’s consistency and skill set make him stand out. Roberts remarked, “Shami swings the ball, Shami seams the ball and Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s”. This endorsement from a cricketing great underscores Shami’s importance to the Indian bowling lineup.

Roberts did not stop at praising Shami; he also commented on Mohammed Siraj, suggesting that Siraj is not at Shami’s level. He stated, “Mohammed Siraj is nowhere near Shami,” reinforcing the idea that Shami should be a key player for India in upcoming matches.

Mohammed Shami’s Recent Performances

Shami’s recent form has been promising. After recovering from a long injury layoff, he performed well in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy and T20 competitions. In his latest appearances for Bengal, he took eight wickets in seven matches with an impressive economy rate of 7.67. His standout performance against Chandigarh included scoring 32 runs off 17 balls and bowling 13 dot balls in four overs.

Despite these performances, there are concerns regarding his fitness for the Australian Tests. After India’s loss in the second Test in Adelaide, captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that “doors are always open for Shami,” but medical staff are monitoring a new swelling on his knee. Given these circumstances, it seems unlikely that he will be available for the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane; however, there remains hope for his participation in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

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Importance of Mohammed Shami to Indian Cricket

Mohammed Shami has established himself as one of India’s premier fast bowlers since his debut. With a career spanning over several years, he has accumulated impressive statistics across formats:

Test Matches: 64 matches, 229 wickets at an average of 27.71
One Day Internationals (ODIs): 101 matches, 195 wickets at an average of 23.68
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): 23 matches, 24 wickets at an average of 29.62.

His ability to deliver under pressure was particularly evident during the 2023 World Cup, where he emerged as India’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets. This performance solidified his reputation as a key player for India on the international stage.

Conclusion

Andy Roberts’ commendation of Mohammed Shami as “India’s best bowler” highlights the respect and recognition he commands within the cricketing community. As India navigates through crucial matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami’s fitness and form will be pivotal to their success. His skills in swinging and seaming the ball make him an invaluable asset to the team. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see if he can return to full fitness in time to contribute significantly against Australia.

Rober’s comments came amidst the speculations that Shami will be called back into Team India for the crucial Brisbane test. Team India started the Border Gavaskar trophy with a huge victory at Perth, but failed to continue the momentum as they tasted a miserable defeat at Adelaide. Team India lost by 10 wickets in the pink ball test.