India vs South Africa: Mohammed Shami hails skipper Virat Kohli after Vizag win: ‘He trusts us, we trust him’

Shami praised skipper Virat Kohli for giving the bowlers freedom to decide the length of their bowling spells, and added that it helps the bowlers to produce their best.

Mohammed Shami was at his best in the second innings of the first Test against South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, when he picked up five wickets to ease India to a 203-run win. After the match, the fast bowler credited skipper Virat Kohli for producing the best out of his bowlers by giving them the freedom to decide the length of their bowling spells. Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live Program after the match, Shami said: “Virat Kohli as a captain always hears us out and gives us the freedom to follow our strategy during the match. He has given us the freedom to take a call on whether we want to bowl 5 overs or 7 overs or more -- he says ‘if you have the power, go ahead and bowl’.”

Virat Kohli walking back with Mohammed Shami. (AP)

The bowler added that the team completely trusts the captain, which he returns vice-versa. “That’s when we take a call that we will bowl three overs but with full power... That’s the understanding we have. He trusts us, and we trust him,” Shami said.

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Shami further went on to laud R Ashwin, who equalled Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of being the fastest bowler to reach 350 Test wickets in 66 matches. “Ashwin has a lot of Test cricket experience, and bowled very well in both the first and second innings,” he said.

“When you have great bowlers like Ashwin and Jadeja in the team, the fast bowlers can breathe easy and relax, knowing that they are there,” the seamer added.

India took a 1-0 lead in three-match Test series over Proteas. The two teams will head to Pune for the 2nd Test which begins Thursday this week.