Mohammed Shami doesn’t seem to feature in India’s first XI plans for the World Cup as the management wants to persist with Shardul Thakur, who gives an extra batting cushion, but the veteran bowler played down the ongoing rotation policy, saying it is giving the team the desired results. But the veteran doesn’t mind the rotation policy in place at the moment.
After making a statement with his five-wicket haul in the first ODI against Australia in Mohali, the pacer said: “When you build a team, a coach has a role to rotate players and based on the situation, it is decided. You have seen we have got results due to rotation and I believe before the World Cup, you shouldn’t put too much workload by playing back-to-back games, and it’s going well, and we are getting good results.”
Shami claimed a career-best five for 51 against Australia. This included the scalps of Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short and Sean Abbott, with the last three wickets coming off his last nine balls.
Shami added: “This is the team’s plan and it is important to stick with it. When you are playing regularly, then someone will have to sit out; one shouldn’t feel guilty about it. If you are playing, it is good, and if you are not in the playing XI, then you should be supportive to those who are playing. I think there is no point feeling low, and I am ready to play the role the team gives me.”
Shami was given rest after the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The 33-year-old said he needed the break since he was playing non-stop cricket.
“Whenever I have come back, I have had the same rhythm, but it was important to take that break, because back-to-back, I had played continuously for seven-eight months and at the back of my head, I felt I needed a break for a series,” he said. “I discussed it with the coach and captain and took a break from (WI series). But my break never seemed like a break for me because I have an elaborate training set-up there, and I ended up training more at home than when I am with the Indian team.”
