India vs Australia: Mohammed Shami not bothered by Team India's rotation policy

Mohammed Shami put in a performance to remember with a five-wicket haul as India dismantled Australia in the first ODI to achieve a rare feat in ICC rankings Friday. Shami’s fifer was also the first for an Indian bowler at home since 2007 when Zaheer Khan took five wickets in a match against Sri Lanka.

Despite the player of the match performance, Shami is not guaranteed of a spot in the playing XI for the World Cup with Mohammed Siraj emerging as team management’s pick to partner Jasprit Bumrah.

IND vs AUS: Shami picks fifer as all-round Men in Blue win by 5 wickets

Shami, however, is not bothered by his situation and said that he supports the rotation policy of Team India.

“This is a part and parcel of the game. It’s important to understand the team’s needs. It isn’t possible that you’ll always be part of the playing XI and team combinations,” Shami said in the post-match press conference after the first ODI against Australia. “When we play regularly, someone or the other will have to sit out. There is no point being frustrated about it. Obviously it’s good if you’re in the XI but it’s also crucial to be understanding when on the bench. That role is also very important.”

Currently, India are employing the strategy of playing only three pure bowlers including a spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and are looking to play all-rounder Shardul Thakur at No 8 to strengthen their batting. Allrounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the other bowling options in the team usually. In such a situation, one out of Shami or Siraj, who took a fifer in India’s Asia Cup final win, is expected to sit out.

“The idea from the team management is to rotate according to the conditions and the situation, or depending on the opposition. They know how to handle it and if you see, the recent results have been quite good. The rotation is going smoothly and before the World Cup, I don’t think anyone should be burdened a lot,” Shami added.

“It’s good for us because rotating pacers is key in such conditions. It’s more important for bowlers, not that it’s easier for batters but still. Rotation is important especially before ICC tournaments. It particularly helps those who haven’t been in rhythm to get some much-needed gametime.”

The most impressive thing about Shami’s fifer was the fact that the pitch wasn’t best suited for a pacer. The flat track got slow as the game progressed and the ball got softer. Shami, however, excelled in the conditions, striking regularly for India.

The pacer also praised Bumrah for his support from the other end.

“It’s satisfying as a bowler when you find rhythm on a surface that isn’t naturally responsive to you. These things change your momentum and if you’ve noticed the Indian attack over the last few years, you will notice that we always help each other out. If I take wickets, then Bumrah will be stopping runs at the other end. This kind of partnership bowling is very important. Someone will take more wickets than the other on a particular day but the supporting roles remain equally crucial,” he said.

Shami’s fitness on a hot sunny day in Mohali also stood out. The pacer credited the break he took after the World Test Championship final for his rhythm.

“I’ve always been in rhythm whenever I have come back to the team. But yes, that break was needed as I had been playing regularly for seven to eight months. I felt like I needed a break and I discussed that with the captain and coach. But my rest is never technically rest as my preparation happens a lot more while I’m at my home. There is a whole setup there for practice and conditioning,” he said.

“We never talk much about this (extreme heat) with respect to tactics. It totally depends on the state of the game if we are to bowl long or short spells. Heat is definitely a factor but when you’ve been playing international cricket for so long, it cannot be an excuse. It doesn’t mean a player’s fitness has fallen or he is struggling. Players are also human. It also depends on how much effort you’re putting in. Sometimes, if the surface isn’t responsive enough, you have to put that much extra as a fast bowler and that makes a difference.”