India need to discuss future plan with Ravi Ashwin and Mohammed Shami: Ex-bowling coach Paras Mhambrey

Paras Mhambrey’s stint as Indian bowling coach ended with ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Ex-India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey pointed out that the new Indian team management under Gautam Gambhir needs to have a talk with Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin about their respective future and plan accordingly.

Mohammed Shami has been out of action since the conclusion of 2023 ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury, for which he underwent surgery. At 33, Shami still has a few years in him to lead the Indian pace attack. But there needs to be a clear talk with him regarding the formats he will play going forward.

Ravi Ashwin, on the other hand, recently played his career’s 100th test against England. At 37, Ashwin has had troubles with his back and knees which he has admitted. The offie has been limited to playing tests as his last ODI came against Australia in the 2023 World Cup in Chennai.

In an exclusive interview with Times of India, Mhambrey stated that a strategy should be developed with the older bowlers’ futures in mind and that the younger players should be integrated with the team.

“It’s important to have those discussions with Shami and Ashwin about their plans and then lay out a plan. When we decided to invest in youth, we made sure they were not alone in the park shouldering all responsibilities. Be it Arshdeep or Avesh, we made sure they were always bowling alongside senior bowlers,” said Mhambrey.

Paras Mhambrey feels building a new pace attack will take 2-3 years going forward

According to Mhambrey, there is no set time frame for developing a fast-bowling pool. According to the former bowling coach, work on the project had begun in 2015 to have a finished product achieved in 2020.

Mhambrey used Arshdeep Singh as an example, stating that following his U19 stint in 2018, the pacer became a crucial member of the lineup by 2024. According to Mhambrey, a young pacer won’t reach their prime for four or five years.

“You can’t put a timeline on that. You have to be patient with it. We started in 2015 and we had that pool by 2020. If you look at Arshdeep’s evolution, he played in the U-19 World Cup in 2018 and he was representing India in 2022 before really becoming an integral part in 2024. A young pace bowler takes four-five years to hit his peak. You can’t simply rush them through,” said Mhambrey.

Mohammed Shami and Ravi Ashwin are expected to return to action for India when they next play Bangladesh at home in two Tests and 3 T20Is.

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