‘I don’t have an ego': Mohammed Shami's insights on bowling with the new or old ball prior to India's Asia Cup opener

Renowned for his remarkable ability to generate both conventional and reverse swing, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has consistently proven himself as a formidable force in the cricketing arena. Shami's prowess extends to his adeptness with the new ball as well as the older one, making him a vital asset for the Indian cricket team.

As the much-anticipated IND vs PAK Asia Cup clash approaches, Shami openly expressed his willingness to adapt to any role assigned to him, even if it means wielding the older ball in the limited-overs matches, allowing his fellow pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, to spearhead the attack with the fresh, gleaming ball.

In an exclusive conversation with Star Sports, Shami shed light on the upcoming high-stakes tournament, stating, “There is too much talk about the white ball or red ball, if you bowl in the right areas I don’t think that there is any difficulty in any ball.

He emphasized, "It all depends on whether I have the new ball or whether the team requires me at any stage during the match, I’m always on. I don’t have any hesitancy to bowl with the new ball or the old ball. I don’t have an ego like that. All three of us (Bumrah, Shami & Siraj) are bowling very well, so it depends on the management on who will play. There is only one goal, to go and give our 100%, the result will come running to us if we give our 100%. So it is very important to focus and execute, it’s a very simple plan.

Shami acknowledged the significance of Jasprit Bumrah's return to the squad, acknowledging that the presence of such a high-caliber player significantly boosts the team's morale, particularly in the lead-up to a significant event like the World Cup. “For a long time, we didn’t have Jassi (Bumrah), so we felt the loss of a good player like him. You sometimes feel like ‘I wish this player was there’, to make your combination set”.

He continued, “So having Jassi, especially in the white-ball format, has made our bowling very strong. He’s looking fit and he’s playing well, hopefully, we have a good Asia Cup.”
As the Indian cricket team readies itself to embark on the Asia Cup journey, Shami's versatility, coupled with Bumrah's resurgence, sets an optimistic tone for the team's aspirations and performance on the grand stage.