On Saturday, in the second ODI match against New Zealand in Raipur, India's Mohammed Shami delivered a masterful performance that helped his team secure a comprehensive eight-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Shami's set-up of Finn Allen in the opening over was particularly noteworthy, as he used a combination of outswingers and a straight delivery to take the wicket of Allen.
Throughout the match, Shami's straight seam position and consistent good length bowling made it difficult for the New Zealand batters to score runs. He also took a superb low catch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell and then bounced out Michael Bracewell, which helped to seal the victory for India.
In the post-match press conference, Shami stated that his role on the team as a new-ball bowler has not changed and that he aims to contribute in every game. He also expressed a desire to play as many games as possible leading up to the World Cup, which is set to be hosted by India in October-November. He explained that playing more games is the best way to prepare for any tournament and that the team management is doing a good job of managing the workloads of all players.
Shami also downplayed any doubts about India's bowling attack in home conditions. He pointed out that India's bowlers have consistently performed well in home conditions and that there is still a long time to go before the World Cup. He said that the team has many players to try out and many games to be played, so any doubts about the team's abilities should be put on hold.
Finally, with the series already won, India could be tempted to make some changes for the final ODI at Indore on Tuesday. Shami stated that the decision on making changes will be taken by the team think-tank and that if the series is won, it would not be a bad idea to give some players a rest.