Shami emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, showcasing his prowess by claiming an impressive 24 wickets in seven matches.
In the lead-up to the two-match Test series between South Africa and India, the skipper of Proteas Temba Bavuma expressed deep respect for India’s cricketing talent pool. Bavuma acknowledged that even the bowler stepping in for the injured Mohammed Shami could put the South African batters under pressure.
Mohammed Shami, an important component of India’s pace attack, has been ruled out due to a heel injury, paving the way for either Prasidh Krishna or the relatively inexperienced Mukesh Kumar to fill the void.
Responding to a question during a media conference, Bavuma stated, “As cricketers, you want to come up against the best, and Mohammed Shami is one of the best going around. Most of us would be looking forward to coming up against him. But India being India, and with the depth that they have, you have to trust that whoever comes in will also put you under pressure.”
Despite Shami’s absence, Bavuma praised India’s strong bowling attack, emphasizing the team’s ability to achieve success over the past decade. The Proteas skipper is optimistic about adapting to home conditions, especially with rain threatening to affect Day 1.
