Had to work really hard to be back in shape, reveals Shami

New Delhi, Aug 7 : Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami, who has so far picked up eight wickets from the two Tests against West Indies, has revealed about the amount of hard work he had put in to shed the extra kilos he had piled after being forced to the bed for two months after his injury.

The joint-quickest Indian fast bowler to 50 wickets, Shami said it was not easy for a fast bowler to bowl with the same rhythm post injury.

"I could not walk and was on crutches for two months. I had decided that in my comeback game for India, I should have the same bowling rhythm as my last game.

It required a lot of hard work," Shami was quoted as saying by the BCCI.tv. The 26-year-old said he had gained 15 kg and was weighing 90 kg in those two months. "My biggest concern was shedding the extra kilograms that had piled up. It took me four months to lose 14 kg and now I weigh the same as before," he said. "I kept working in the gym for up to six hours every day. I was overweight, I had to get back in shape and after that, the challenge was to bowl in the same manner as I used to.

It was a really tough phase it required tremendous hard work," he added. Speaking about the praise he has received from head coach Anil Kumble, the right-arm pacer said he was happy to know that the Indian legend was pleased with his bowling and has shown confidence in his abilities.

The two sides will next meet each other in the third Test starting from August 9 at St. Lucia..

Source: ANI