The first ODI against England Monday was Shami’s first appearance in the format after almost two years apart. He last played in India’s 51-point loss to Australia in November 2020.
“It was not a small break but three years,” Shami, who claimed 3 for 31 at the Oval on Tuesday, said in a chat with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on BCCI.tv.
“Nothing was going through my head regarding the gap. I became very comfortable with the team. We have been traveling together and playing together for a decade now.
Choosing your 1⃣5⃣0⃣th ODI wicket 👏Bowling in tandem with @Jaspritbumrah93 🤝@MdShami11 discusses everything with Bowli… https://t.co/TFCATJwDwm
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“Everyone knows their job and after playing so much cricket, if you come with a question mark in your mind then I think it’s not good.”
It was also a landmark match for Shami who became the fastest Indian bowler and the third fastest overall to win 150 scalps in ODI cricket.
“It’s extremely important to come with a clear mind because you already know what you need to do, where you need to throw the ball, the variations of the cue ball and everyone knows those basics.
“But you have to be brave from the bottom of your heart and if you are, you can prepare in any format at any time.”
As Shami claimed three wickets, another pacer Jasprit Bumrah finished with a career-high 6 for 19 to wow England in the first ODI.
“As soon as we started the ball would stop and bend, it became important for us to choose our zones and keep control of the line and the length.
“We played our best performance (in the first ODI); like, the way a series should be started, she led by example.”
Shami said the key is to keep it simple and put the pressure on batters on both sides.
“The one thing to keep in mind was that while the zone will be great on a pitch where it wobbles and seams, you play with good rhythm on both sides and that makes life difficult for (the batting teams) on a counter like this.
“We kept it simple, we were able to get the wickets quickly and the result is there for all to see.”
Shami feels that little needs to be changed if the conditions remain the same in the next two games.
“Personally speaking, going back to a simple theory will be the best solution. If the wicket behaves a bit differently, then you have to think a bit more,” he said.
“If you take the confidence from here to the rest of the games, then the chances are there for more success.
“But if the wicket is dry or slow then plans can be changed. But carrying the confidence from here is very important.”
India leads the three-game series 1-0.
