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India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami responded thoughtfully to questions about perceived favoritism in Indian cricket. Despite currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami has resumed training post his Achilles Tendon surgery in London.
His last international appearance was in the World Cup final against Australia last November. Shami is targeting a return to action during India’s upcoming home series against Bangladesh in September.
Mohammed Shami responds to accusations of favoritism in Indian cricket
During a conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Mohammed Shami addressed the topic of perceived preferential treatment towards certain players in Indian cricket. Mishra mentioned instances like Pawan Negi and Manpreet Gony, who got opportunities possibly due to their association with CSK, led by then-captain MS Dhoni.
Shami calmly rebutted these suggestions, stating he had never observed such occurrences in his career. He emphasized that a captain’s trust in a player typically stems from having witnessed their abilities firsthand, rather than any external factors.
“I haven’t noticed such things ever. Maybe I didn’t feel such things because I go outside very rarely. You believe in the skills of those players whom you have seen for a long time. Like Rohit said he wasn’t able to see Sundar, Shivam Dube, or Abhishek before the World Cup. There is a reason behind it. These players were not with him,” Shami said.
Shami succinctly remarked that consistent performance speaks louder than any speculation. He emphasized that a player who consistently delivers on the field will naturally silence any doubts or criticisms.
“I always believe that you must give such a performance that no one can ever raise questions on you. The other things should not matter,” the 33-year-old pacer added.
Indian cricket has been under scrutiny over the preferential treatment of certain players in recent times. The decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain and the omission of Ruturaj Gaikwad from squads for the Sri Lanka tour have raised eyebrows in this regard.
Gaikwad showcased exceptional performance in Zimbabwe, adapting to a different batting role due to the crowded opening slots. Despite batting at No. 3, he consistently scored runs at a commendable strike rate. However, he did not find a place in either the T20I or ODI squads for the Sri Lanka series.
Conversely, Shubman Gill emerged as the highest scorer in the Zimbabwe series but struggled to match the aggressive batting style now favored by India. While other batsmen recorded strike rates well above 150, Gill managed a strike rate of just 126 during the series.
