Asia Cup 2023: It is not easy to drop someone like Mohammed Shami, says India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey

India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey is pleased to have all four seam-bowling options available and fit for the Asia Cup and upcoming ODI World Cup at home. Jasprit Bumrah was the latest to recuperate from a long-term injury.

Bumrah, India’s lead pacer, returned to action against Ireland in the T20I series after a nine month injury layoff. After playing two T20I matches, the right-arm bowler has looked like he never left off in the 50-over Asia Cup.

“We have been following Bumrah’s progress from the NCA, and we are very happy with the report that we have got.

“Now, we have four quality bowlers, and it is always great to have those options. The problem of plenty is always good,” Mhambrey said ahead of India’s final Super 4 match against Bangladesh on Friday.

India are spoilt for choice in the seam bowling department with Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and allrounder Hardik Pandya the frontline options which leaves Mohammed Shami on the sidelines.

“It’s not very easy to drop someone like Shami. The experience that he has and the performance that he has done for the country is phenomenal. It’s never easy to have that kind of a conversation (dropping a player),” he said.

“But we are clear in the way we have gone about the conversation with the players and they have shown confidence in us.

“Players know any decision that we take and they know that it is for the benefit of the team,” said Mhambrey.

The former India bowler is also pleased with how Pandya is shaping up as a bowler despite the flurry of injuries in his career.

“I am very happy with the way Hardik has shaped up, something that we have worked on for a long time. We have been managing his workload, making sure that he is fit and able to achieve what we expect out of him.

“Once he hits 140 kmph he is a different bowler. From the team perspective it’s a wicket-taking option that we have,” added Mhambrey.

Mhambrey also said the Indian team is working with fall-back options, so that they have different plans when needed. Tilak Varma features prominently in that scheme.

“I have been working with Tilak since his U-19 days. We were in South Africa and we realised he has bowling skills. We are working on it consistently.

“If the captain gets confidence that he can bowl one over and deliver, this one over can turn into two overs. But it depends on circumstances where we need that extra bowler,” he said.