Mohammed Shami’s much-awaited return to top-flight cricket did not receive too many supporting signals during the seasoned pacer’s nearly hour-long stint of varying intensity at the India nets here on Friday.
Shami, whose last appearance in India colours was during the 2023 World Cup final, worked hard on finding his bowling rhythm at the Chepauk, but never really hit his flowing peak which makes him a tough customer for batters.
Shami was going to be a definite starter in the playing 11 for India in its first T20I against England at Kolkata on Wednesday, but the management went ahead and stalled his comeback much like it had done at Eden Gardens. Again, just as he had at Eden, Shami was on his feet during the nets - this time with some light jogging accompanying assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.
Then the 34-year-old participated in few minutes of throwing practice with fielding coach T Dilip before going into the bowling nets near the Madras Cricket Club stand.
Shami, whose both legs were heavily bandaged, began with half run-up and worked up reasonable pace as well.
After bowling a few deliveries with reduced run-up, Shami went back full distance but the renowned smoothness in his approach and release was lacking.
He did hit the base of the stumps a few times as bowling coach Morne Morkel watched him closely while doing the wicketkeeper duties.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh too bowled at the nets but the Punjab man was sharp and accurate.
The Bengal pacer then took a few minutes break from the nets to have a chat with Morkel and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Shami then went back to the nets to continue bowling.
His rhythm and sharpness began to come into place but the entire scene was one of rustiness.
It's pretty baffling too because Shami had been picked to the India team for the series against England and the Champions Trophy following his games in the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
But here, he looked nowhere near his lethal best and initially he did not bowl to any of his batting colleagues, who went outside to train at the MAC 'B' ground.
Shami then bowled a couple of balls to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who returned to the main ground along with Hardik Pandya, before going back to follow fielding and catching drills.
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