Shami was right up there when it came to pace: Shastri

Tags: India tour of New Zealand 2019, New Zealand vs India 5th ODI at Wellington, Feb 03, 2019, India, New Zealand, Mohammed Shami Ahmed, Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri, Best bowler

Published on: Feb 05, 2019

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India won the ODI series against New Zealand 4-1 clinching the final ODI by 35 runs at Wellington. Mohammed Shami was adjudged Man of the Series

India won the ODI series against New Zealand 4-1 clinching the final ODI by 35 runs at Wellington. Mohammed Shami was adjudged Man of the Series for picking nine wickets in four matches at average of 15.33.

Coach Ravi Shastri was all praise for Shami for his stupendous performance in recent times. "I thought we batted well in the top-order in the first three games. But one man, if I have to single out, over the last five months is the man who won the Man of the Series," Shastri was quoted as saying in a Moneycontrol report.

The coach added, "It hurt him when he got the kick up the backside and was dropped from the side after failing the yo-yo test. He went back, did the hard yards, and across all formats, he has been simply outstanding. And right through the series, he has given us those early breakthroughs."

Shastri went on to say in the report, "He was right up there when it came to pace and the spinners supported him well. You can't take away the contribution of Kuldeep and Chahal in al these one-day games."

In his last nine innings, Shami has claimed 17 wickets at an impressive strike rate of just over 27.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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