Shami's long-awaited return sight for sore eyes

Having made his India comeback, focus will be on pacer ahead of CT

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

JUST as artificial light was beginning to take over from natural light at the Niranjan Shah Stadium at Rajkot on Tuesday, the familiar but slightly forgotten sight of Mohammed Shami steaming in with a white ball next to the main pitch played itself out.

Since that fateful evening against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023, all cricketing stakeholders – the paying public, commentators, broadcasters, the board and the players – have yearned for him.

It's definitely not been a case of out of sight, out of mind. If anything, it's been a case of absence making the heart grow fonder.

It's easy to see why the speedster, at 34 very much in the December second week of his career, has this sort of reputation.

Even if he doesn't make things happen, the mere possibility of having a Shami in the XI is akin to that of a solid fixed deposit in the bank during a bear run.

He's a totally bankable bowler; not only safe as houses but also capable of conjuring magic.

With Jasprit Bumrah in the setup, India's ceiling is already high.