CHENNAI: For an X (formerly known as Twitter) account with about 732,000 followers, every post from @BCCIdomestic (the handle of the Indian cricket body that gives updates on domestic cricket) garners a few hundred impressions to maybe a few thousand, especially if it's a video or picture.
On Thursday, the post about a record-breaking partnership in the history of the tournament with pictures had received about 14K views as of 9 PM. On any other day, that would have gone down as the most-viewed post from the handle. But Thursday wasn't going to be any other day.
Having taken the field after approximately 359 days since his last professional game, Mohammed Shami was having a ball in Indore. Making a comeback after a long injury lay-off, the veteran India pacer had already bowled ten overs for Bengal on day one of the Ranji Trophy clash against Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.
On Thursday, however, Shami was in his element. He bowled nine overs, gave away 20 runs while returning with four wickets — something that will do the pacer's confidence a world of good. It all happened so fast in the morning that when the BCCI domestic handle posted a highlight package of his spell at about 3 PM, it blew up.
In about six hours, the post had more than 133K views — easily the most viral post from the account in a long time. And understandably so. After all, it is the comeback every Indian fan, team member, administrator and stakeholder are eagerly waiting for.
Shami was not just the strike pacer for India during the pace pandemic but also one of the most reliable fast bowlers to run in all day. Over the last decade, the Bengal pacer has been one of the cores around which Indian bowling is built on. And at a time when Indian cricket is struggling, a historic home defeat against New Zealand just before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami making a comeback could augur well for the team's chances Down Under.
Shami, after all, has been the second best Indian pacer in Australia, only after Jasprit Bumrah, over the last decade. In the second innings of the match, no Indian has a better record. His second innings strike rate of 44.8 in Australia is only bettered by Kagiso Rabada in the last ten years.
Now, it is not just the numbers, the sight of Shami running in around the wicket and delivering the upright seam that moves either way after pitching makes everyone in the dressing room, and the fans, feel better.
They know he is there to deliver, as he has time and again. Thursday, Shami showed a glimpse of it from either side of the pitch. His smooth run-up, impeccable release and sideways movement were all there to see as the 34-year-old finished with four wickets for 54 runs. As much as it has put a smile on everyone's face, nothing is certain as of now.
Shami has had a tough time since the ODI World Cup final last year and has been through ankle surgery as well. His long lay-off was supposed to end before the home series against Black Caps but Shami was not ready and India knew better than rushing him back. In fact, captain Rohit Sharma, after the Bengaluru Test, had said that it would be difficult even for the Australia series. "He had a setbsportsack and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit and had to start again. He's at the NCA with doctors and physios. We don't want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed," Rohit had said.
Even as Shami was getting ready, the selectors announced a squad without him and the team is already in Perth, preparing for the first Test against Australia on November 22. As things stand, Shami's return is a good sign but the selectors and the medical team will monitor him closely as the pacer takes the field in the second innings against Madhya Pradesh and how he sustains on the field. And if they are satisfied, Shami could fly to Australia and join the team.
The good thing for him and the Indian team is that it is a long series and they have a two-day game against Prime Minister XI in Canberra on November 30 before the second Test. Which means, there is no need for them to push the pacer back in unless necessary. One thing can be said for sure though. Should Shami get through the challenges and take the field in Australia, the social media posts featuring him would garner a lot more than 133K views.