New Delhi, India: Mohammed Shami, while speaking to news agency IANS said he failed a fitness test last year in June 2018 because of “family problems” and “mental unpreparedness”.

Image Source: Reuters

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who was dropped from the Test team last year after failing a fitness test in June 2018, shared his journey to news agency IANS on Monday.

From failing the health test to breaking into India’s squad for the upcoming World Cup on the basis his brilliant sheer performance. Shami has definitely gotten up instead of going downhill.

Speaking to IANS, Shami recounted the horror and also said that while everyone spoke about him failing the test, not many realised that he wasn’t even in the frame of mind to take the field at that point in time.

“I had some family problems at that point of time. The fitness test didn’t go well and I accept that I failed. But then, I wasn’t even in that frame of mind where I could focus on the match against Afghanistan. I wasn’t mentally prepared and had to undergo the Yo-Yo Test at that point in time and I flunked,” he explained.

“Pressure was there, but I kept myself motivated and told myself that I have to work on my fitness and come back strongly. I have reduced 12-14 kilos since then and you can see that not just in my physical appearance, but it also reflects in the rhythm and momentum that I have found in my bowling,” he pointed.

When the news agency asked Shami if it was different to suddenly play under a bowler in R. Ashwin, this is what he replied:

“It has been fun and different. A bowler understands the position of another bowler, while a captain who is a batsman thinks from the point of view of a batsman.”

“Our understanding is good as we have played together for a long time and know each other’s strength and weaknesses. Also, I could go up to him and speak to him frankly about my thought process during a particular situation in the game,” he added.

Hasin Jahan, Shami’s wife who has creating news for all the ups and downs in her and Indian pacer’s life recently got into a scuffle with the in-laws.

What is a Yo-Yo test?

Yo-Yo is a variation of the Beep test, a running aerobic fitness routine that Indian cricketers undergo, however, this was only conducted in the past. But passing Beep was not mandatory for selection as is the case with Yo-Yo, The Hindu reported.

Stay tuned for more updates!