“Itne bhi bure din nahi dekhe” – Shami opens up about WC and injury
Back from an injury that had crippled him for almost a year, Mohammed Shami reflected upon the bad days he endured through the period – from playing injured at the World Cup to the hospital to crutches and back on to the pitch.
“No one should face such a time. It was really tough times. When injury happened the doctors prohibited me from getting up from bed for two months. That was the toughest time for me. I was allowed to walk only up to the bathroom,” he relived the tough times while talking to the media ahead of the Australia tour.
Despite the injury, the pace spearhead had bowled through pain and knee joint aspirations through the 2015 World cup to finish the second-highest wicket taker for the team. Back then, when asked about his injury woes, he had remarked “Itne bhi bure din nahi dekhe” although he had yet to witness the worst of his injury woes.
The bowler had words of wisdom for injury times as well remarking, “I feel the time after injury is the worst for any player and you have to be mentally strong to be prepared for this. Injury is an irritating thing and I hope next time this (injury) does not come in my life again.”
Shami also spoke about the gradual return to good times as he started convalescing."When I finally started walking without crutches, and met the team before the tour of Bangladesh, I felt like I was alive again.
"That I was connecting with the world again. In those two months, I had not even seen the dining room [of my house]. I feel the period after the injury is very tough for any player, and you need great mental strength to overcome it," he recounted.
“After that when I started associating with cricket – running, in rehab and meeting doctors – then I felt good. Playing in the Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali trophies was important for me to get back into rhythm. I was keen to play four-five matches before the (Australian tour),” he said.
Asked on his return to the Aussie grounds where he had one of his best times bowling, he said, “Some pitches offer bounce, some offer extra bounce, some offer great carry and some are just normal. For example, Brisbane is different from Perth. Another thing is the size of the grounds. You feel like bowling your heart out. You know that you are always in with a chance. Top edges don’t usually lead to fours and sixes; they lead to catches. There are way too many plusses,” in an exclusive to the Hindu.
Shami, however, seemed to retain a bit of the fear of injury when he talked about the initial few net sessions. “I was a little circumspect during the first couple of net sessions. ‘What if I get injured again?’ was a constant thought then. I am glad that’s no longer the case. I can’t wait to join my teammates,” he said.
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