Team India has one of the best units of bowlers in the world. There was an example of this on display for both days of the opening test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur against Australia. Ravindra Jadeja was the star bowler in the first innings, whereas Ashwin shone in the second innings.
The Indian bowling team has greatly benefited from the influence of players who excel at bowling at a rapid speed. However, who has proven the toughest bowler for the team in recent years?
In a discussion on a show, Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik picked Mohammad Shami as one of the toughest bowlers he has worked in the Indian side. He further stated that even legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have “hated” playing against Shami.
Karthik further adds that Shami is the toughest bowler he’s ever played against. In the last match, Shami got him out as well. He thought Shami was the only one to take this stance, but then he asked Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and they were all legends of the game and they all hated playing Shami in the nets as well.
Karthik elaborated that it is not only Shami’s “upright seam position” but his bowling length that is a major contributor to his success rate in bowling. For a fast bowler, revs are close to 1000 rpm, but for Shami it is close to 1500-1600. That is what makes him unique. When you have that much spin, when there is little of the pitch, he is literally unplayable, he disclosed.
