We can win beat any team in the world: Mohd Shami

Vinayak Padmadeo
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 20 

Mohammad Shami and Suresh Raina were part of the grand launch of the first high-performance and scientific assessment of the Kho-Kho team.

Even as the compere was introducing the celebrities present, including two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, the cricketers and a few on the podium were busy checking on Brisbane Test updates.

The win was celebrated with fist bumps. Shami was unabashedly elated with the win on Tuesday that ended Australia’s dominance at the Gabba, where India became the first team to beat them in 33 years.

A proud Shami, who had to return after suffering a fracture in his right arm during the first Test in Adelaide, said that Team India can now win anywhere in the world.

“This team’s calibre can be explained by how well the bench played a major role in this win,” Shami said on the sidelines of the meet.

“And this series has shown that we will have no issues in trusting youngsters while playing abroad. These boys have given out a message that now we can beat any team in the world,” the fast bowler added.

Greatest achievement

Shami, who was left out for the first two Test matches at home against England and was yet to start bowling, called it the greatest-ever achievement considering how the team kept losing key players to injuries.

“There is no better feeling than beating them in a back to back series. We didn’t have our main players and we have won the series with our reserve players. This has to be our greatest achievement. The team showed character and we have repeated the 2018 performance so I don’t think that there is anything bigger in terms of achievement for us. And it is very rare in cricket where you tour and win back to back series,” Shami explained.

If you look at the whole series, we have performed well with both bat and bowl. And as a team unit we have seen that whosoever gets a chance, youngster or a senior player, they have played their part. But when given chances even youngsters have contributed and showed that they are part of the team and can perform at this level,” he added.

The 30-year-old pacer, still wearing a cast lauded the support staff and the team management for keeping the team going despite the much-publicised injury woes of the team.

“Everyone has contributed. You know many of us got injured. When I got injured I was teary-eyed as I knew we had a chance to win the series. Credit goes to the support staff, team management and you can’t give credit for this win just to one individual so credit goes to the entire team as they have made our country proud today,” said the Amroha pacer, who plans to get back to bowling soon.

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