There are not many bowlers of Shami Bhai’s quality, Captain Shubman Gill said on his absence

News India Live, Digital Desk: Indian cricket team’s experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been out of the team for a long time and is not a part of the team even in the important Test series against England. Now the team’s new Test captain Shubman Gill has broken his silence on how much his absence is going to be missed by the team. Gill has admitted that the absence of a great bowler like Shami in the team is a big blow, but at the same time he also talked about looking towards the future.

Difficult to fill Shami’s place: Gill

In a conversation before the Test series against South Africa, Shubman Gill clearly said, “There are not many bowlers of Shami Bhai’s quality.” Praising Shami’s experience and ability, he said that it is never easy for a player like him to be out of the team.

However, Gill also expressed confidence in the other fast bowlers present in the team. “But when you look at the performances of others – like Aakash Deep and Prasidh (Krishna) – and what Siraj and Bumrah have done for us, it becomes a difficult decision,” he said.

“We have to think about the future”

Giving a big hint, Gill said, “When a player like Shami Bhai is out, it is never easy, but at the same time we have to think about the future as well.” From his statement, many people are speculating that perhaps the selectors are now looking beyond Shami and focusing on preparing young bowlers.

Injury and fitness became the reason

Mohammed Shami was struggling with a heel injury since last year’s World Cup, for which he had to undergo surgery. Although he returned to domestic cricket and performed brilliantly in the Ranji Trophy, but according to the selectors, he is still not completely fit to handle the pressure of Test cricket. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had also clarified that the medical team has said that Shami’s body is not ready to handle the burden of red-ball cricket at the moment.

In a difficult series like England, where an experienced bowler is very much needed, Team India will definitely miss Mohammed Shami. Now under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep will have a big responsibility to fill this gap.