Mohammed Shami reveals impact of Jasprit Bumrah’s absence on workload before ICC Champions Trophy final, says…

New Delhi: Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, recently opened up about the added responsibility he has shouldered since his comeback from a long injury break. With his sights set on regaining top form for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, Shami is determined to meet the team's requirements on the field. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Shami has been leading the pace attack, forming a formidable duo with either Harshit Rana or Hardik Pandya for the crucial new-ball duties.

The circumstances have created distinct difficulties. Rana is an emerging player who is still honing his abilities, whereas Pandya, an all-rounder, is not primarily known as a specialist ODI bowler who can reliably bowl ten overs. This scenario has added additional strain on Shami, who has stepped up by taking eight wickets in the tournament so far.

“I am trying to get my rhythm back and contribute more for the team. It is a responsibility when there are no two proper fast bowlers and I have to shoulder more responsibility,” Shami said in a mixed zone interaction following India’s four-wicket win over Australia in Champions Trophy semifinal.

Shami acknowledged that Jasprit Bumrah’s absence has significantly heightened his workload. With Bumrah not available to share the pace bowling duties, Shami has had to take on more responsibility. As a result, he has been required to put in extra effort and sustain a greater intensity during his bowling sessions.

“There is a load when you are the one main fast bowler and the other is an all-rounder. You have to pick wickets and lead from the front. I have become used to this load and am trying my best to make it easy for others and give more than 100 per cent,” he added.

Shami’s return to international cricket comes after a prolonged absence due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup, sidelining him for over a year. Now, having regained his fitness, the veteran pacer has expressed his readiness to take on the increased demands placed upon him. He’s prepared to shoulder the responsibility of bowling extended spells, demonstrating his commitment to the team’s success despite the challenges posed by his recent injury and the absence of key bowling partners.

“The trust debate ends when you get selected in the team. I don’t think that one should worry about his fitness too much. We just need to put in the effort and see how your body takes it. I am now ready to bowl long spells. Short spells are anyways easy — 6 balls or 12 balls — and in limited-overs cricket it doesn’t matter whether it’s 10 or six overs,” Shami further said.

Shami’s bowling workload has fluctuated during the Champions Trophy. He completed his full allocation of 10 overs in important matches against Bangladesh and Australia, showcasing his capacity to maintain performance over extended periods. Conversely, in the earlier matches against Pakistan and New Zealand, he bowled shorter spells of eight and four overs, respectively.

The 34-year-old mentioned the benefit of playing all of India’s Champions Trophy matches at the same location in Dubai. He suggested that the uniform playing conditions at this venue have helped him to find his rhythm and perform well.

“It has definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch. It is a plus point that you are playing all the matches at one venue. The main thing is to gauge the conditions and know how the pitch behaves because you are playing at one venue and you can get to know it well,” he concluded.