Mohammed Shami put up an impressive show in the first ODI at Napier to play a key role in India’s win over New Zealand in the first ODI. He claimed three wickets including the openers to give India the perfect start to the tour.

Mohammed Shami put up an impressive show in the first ODI at Napier to play a key role in India’s win over New Zealand in the first ODI. He claimed three wickets including the openers to give India the perfect start to the tour.

Speaking about his ODI comeback and battling injuries, Shami said at the post-match presentation, “Coming back from injury, we have good facilities provided to us. It changed things for me a bit. It was a big blow. For the next 18 months, I was in rehab.”

He added, "I trained really hard and when I came into the team, everyone backed me, the management, the captain and so I was able to push my limits, keep getting fitter and fitter.”

Shami also stated that bowling in Australia has also helped. "Success boils down to the hard work by the team on the whole. And we always have plans for players. Plan A, Plan B. We can go from one to the next,” he explained.

The match saw Shami becoming the fastest Indian to 100 ODI wickets when he bowled Martin Guptill. Shami beat the Indian record held by Irfan Pathan. Shami got to the feat in his 56th ODI while Pathan took 59 games.

--By A Cricket Correspondent