Ahead of the West Indies tour, Virat Kohli seems to be quite happy with the return of Mohammed Shami into the squad announcing that he has the ability to hit the “perfect test match length”.
Shami has returned to the squad after being out for nearly 15 months since the end of the 2015 ICC World Cup where he bowled with an injured knee. Since then, he has undergone knee surgery and returned to the squad for the first time.
“Shami is obviously a very skillful guy and we all know that. He has a lot of ability with the ball. The way he releases and pitches the ball, it's more than perfect for Test cricket. I mean the line and length that he hits is always attacking no matter how the wicket is,” Kohli said.
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When asked why he considered Shami to be a cut above the other fast bowlers available to the team, Virat Kohli explained that it was Shami's versatility that makes him the ideal man for whatever job that needs to be done. “Best thing is if it’s seaming and swinging, he can bowl the conventional line and length. If it's reverse swinging, he knows exactly where to bring the ball from. He has a great sense and feel of how to get a batsman out. We are working on the aspect of mental strength of his game,” he said. The only thing that Shami might need to work upon is self-confidence and consistency according to Kohli.
It is quite widely known that Shami can be extremely formidable once he is in form. The fact that he has been out for 15 months may prove to be a cause of concern but Kohli has complete faith in his teammate doing all he can to return to form in time India's upcoming games.
"He had a great season before he got injured. He couldn't play the World T20 due to injury, so I am sure he is eager to make a comeback and prove (his worth) all over again," said Kohli.
India’s tour of West Indies begins in the third week of July.
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