Times change. Once described by Vasu Paranjape as the ribbon-cutters of Indian cricket, fast bowlers have played a big role in the Test team’s success in England (2021), and Australia (2018/19, 2020/21). They have ensured that the side remains competitive across conditions, even if their batters have, at times, fallen short of putting up the requisite fight.

But it hasn’t been a one-man show. Alongside the world-class Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami has been one of India’s finest fast bowlers over the last five years or so. Their Test bowling averages, since Bumrah’s debut, sit at 22.08 and 23.85 respectively.

Where Shami stands ahead – and it’s worth noting that Bumrah played his first home Test only in 2021 – is in terms of the record in India.

Since his first Test at home in 2013, Shami has picked up 67 wickets at an average of 20.89 in India. For bowlers with a minimum of fifty Test wickets in India, only the legendary Richie Benaud, and modern superstar Ravindra Jadeja are ahead of him in terms of the average. As things stand, Shami’s home average trumps not only the most successful fast bowlers in the country including Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath, but also some of the greatest spinners that India has ever produced including Bishan Singh Bedi, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Anil Kumble.

His average after 77 Test wickets in Asia sits at 20.48; only the great Imran Khan has taken more wickets (205) than him at a better average (20.28). While someone like Umesh Yadav (home Test bowling average of 25.16) has often been described as the ‘home specialist’, Shami’s exploits in Indian conditions probably don’t get enough attention. This might be down to the fact that the seamer has been brilliant around the world, snaring 143 wickets so far at 29.76 with four five-wicket hauls.

His extraordinary run in India comes down to several factors.

Although not tall, he is strongly built: this, as pointed out by his former Ranji coach WV Raman, enabled him to bowl long spells when he was first establishing himself. Raman recalls that Shami wouldn’t be satisfied with just bowling a half-hour spell and then heading to the trainer. His aim was to bowl for as long as possible.

The strong foundations have helped him build into a proper workhorse in the current setup, especially after he put renewed focus on his fitness under the tutelage of Bharat Arun.

Add to this the seamer’s thirst for improvement. By his own admission, he wasn’t naturally gifted in several departments, but worked hard on reverse swing, an essential weapon in the flat subcontinental conditions.

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His technical capabilities in flat conditions were discussed by Kohli after India’s win at Centurion last year. He believed that the fast bowler’s strong wrist, seam position and ability to hit length consistently have helped him succeed on wickets that don’t offer much. Shami’s impeccable line and length have forced batters to go for unplayable deliveries.

With these weapons in his armour, Shami has found great success at home.

He has ensured that in the time Jadeja and Ashwin are not bowling, there aren’t any easy overs for the opposition batters. Also, if there is any movement off the wicket or possibility of reverse, Shami has managed to make the best use of it. An example of the same was the India-New Zealand encounter at Kolkata in 2016. Shami teamed up with Bhuvneshwar Kumar to inflict new-ball damages and also returned later to strike back when the ball reversed. Over the years, he’s hunted batters with unerring accuracy, relentlessly attacking the stumps which have resulted in a higher proportion of ‘bowled’ dismissals. His five-wicket haul against the visiting South Africa team in 2o19 showcases the versatility he offered on drab pitches.

What feeds his capabilities is the hunger to play Test cricket. At a time when bowlers shift their focus towards white-ball cricket and the IPL, leaving Test cricket behind, Shami’s only grown from strength to strength in the Test format, giving the game’s premier format its due respect to become one of the most impactful bowlers of this generation.