It will be a tit for tat reply if Australia sledge us: Mohammed Shami

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has warned Australians before the start of the series stating that they will get a fitting reply if they try to sledge the Men in Blue. The 5-match ODI series is set to commence from 17 September at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Shami was included in the squad announced for the first three ODIs on Sunday. He had a decent Test series against Sri Lanka in August.

Currently, Australia is playing a warm-up game against Indian Board President’s XI in the city ahead of the first ODI. The rivalry between India and Australia has fired up in recent times, involving many intense moments that have made their way to the cricketing folklore. The last time these two teams met in India, it was run-fest and the same is expected this time around as well.

Sledging is a part of the game

Shami admitted that sledging is a part of the game but was of the opinion that it should be in limits. “Sledging is a part of the game. When your opposition has struck a partnership in the game, you sledge the batsmen to break their focus. This comes from naturally. We sledge but never using bad words. Sledging is very important when you have to dismiss a set batsman or break a partnership,” he said in an interview with India TV.

The 27-year-old pacer also mentioned that they were ready to take on the Kangaroos and was also confident of finishing on top in the series.

“We are 100 percent ready to take on the Australian sledging. If they sledge us, they will get the appropriate reply. It will be a tit for tat reply. I think we are performing well from the past few series. We just clean swept Sri Lanka. We are confident of winning the series,” he added.

Shami is making a comeback across formats slowly after missing all the cricketing action since World Cup in 2015. He generated good pace in the Test series against Sri Lanka. The during the interaction also bowler mentioned that he will focus on basics rather than planning a dismissal for any particular batsman. “I have never planned against any particular batsman. I am just focused on my basics,” the Bengal pacer concluded.