India vs Australia: Shouldn't feel low for sitting out if the team is winning, opines Mohammed Shami

Mohali (Punjab): India pacer Mohammed Shami has said that he doesn't feel low for warming the bench in the 50-over format in recent times as long as the team is winning.

Shami put in an impactful performance in the first ODI against India with a five-for and played a key role in restricting Australia to a below-par total. India won the first game by five wickets.

However, the team management has indicated that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and right-arm medium pacer Mohammed Siraj are going to be the specialist pacers for the national side with allrounders Shardul Thakur (right-arm medium pacer) and Hardik Pandya (right-arm medium pacer) supporting them.

Reflecting on the sporadic chances he is getting in the ODI format, Shami stated that he didn't feel low for warming the bench as the team is winning matches.

"When I was playing regularly, there must have been someone, who had to sit out and I wasn't guilty. So you can't feel low if you are sitting out because the team is winning. This is the team's plan and it is important to stick with it. You can't be always in the playing XI because a lot depends on the team combination," Shami, who represents Bengal in domestic cricket, said in the post-match press conference late Friday night.

"If you are playing, well and good and if you are not in the playing XI, then you should be supportive of those, who are playing. I think there is no point feeling low and I am ready to play the role the team gives me," he quipped.

India has been rotating their players ahead of the World Cup and they have often switched between Siraj and Shami. Further, Ravichandran Ashwin was recalled to the national side for the ongoing three-match ODI series against Australia.

Shami thinks that the rotation policy has been working for the team and they have dished out a victory in the 2023 Asia Cup as a result. Also, he added that the rotation policy helps players manage their workload ahead of the World Cup, which will be played in India.

"What you are trying to know is beyond my comprehension but obviously when you build a team, (the) coach has a role to rotate players and, based on the situation, it is decided. You have seen we have (had) got results due to rotation and I believe before the World Cup, you shouldn't put too much workload in back-to-back games, and it's going well and we are getting good results," he explained.

India will look to seal the series when the two teams clash at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday and pacer Mohammed Shami, if given a chance, will look for another five-for.