New Delhi. IPL 2026: If any player is in the news the most, it is Mohammed Shami who has been sidelined from the Indian team. His bowling and the way Shami dismissed Abhishek Sharma was revealed by the coach of Lucknow Super Giants. The secret behind Abhishek’s dismissal was a ‘new’ ball, which he had learned along with bowling coach Bharat Arun just a few days ago.
Lucknow Super Giants spin coach Carl Crowe said that Shami, who is out of the team, performed tremendously for LSG after a brilliant domestic season for Bengal, bowling 18 dot balls with figures of 2/9 in four overs and destroying the top order of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Invention of ‘new ball’
Crowe said that bowling coach Bharat Arun and Shami worked on new bowling variations four days before the match. He dismissed Abhishek with the same ball.” This ball was slow and wide, due to which the number 1 T20 batsman was trapped. Shami first made a change in the field, sent it to deep third man at deep point, then surprised the batsman with a yorker on the leg stump line. On the last ball of the over, he took another fielder on the off side, removed the slip and bowled a wide slow ball to the left hander, which gave a thick edge on the drive and was caught by M Siddharth at short third man. Shami also dismissed Travis Head in the next over, leaving SRH at 156/9. LSG won by five wickets, which was their first win of the season.
Shami always ready to learn
Crowe said that Shami’s willingness to learn makes him different from everyone else. “I feel that all of us, whether young or experienced, are never too old to learn a new skill. In just four days, Shami learned that skill, tried it in the match and took a wicket, this is amazing both from Bharat’s coaching and Shami’s thinking. Despite being a senior player, he is ready to learn new skills and advance his game, this thinking is fantastic. Shami took 68 wickets for Bengal in the 2025-26 domestic season in which Syed 16 wickets in Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 15 wickets in Vijay Hazare Trophy and 37 wickets in Ranji Trophy, but he is being ignored in the national team under the leadership of coach Gautam Gambhir and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, while the demand for his return for the 2027 World Cup is increasing.
Rishabh’s captaincy is different
Former England first-class cricketer Crowe also praised captain Rishabh Pant, calling him an ’empowering’ leader. “I would say he empowers his bowlers completely. He is interested in hearing their opinions in team meetings and wants to understand their plans. I really like Pant. One thing he does very well, even if it seems small, is when he walks into the room as captain, says ‘Hello’ to everyone and shakes hands. It creates a sense of belonging in the team, and I love that.
leader who takes everyone along
Rishabh Pant is definitely a captain who gives priority to the players. Also give advice when needed. “Being a wicketkeeper, sometimes it is difficult to go and give advice to the bowler from 30 yards behind, but they have experienced players like Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran who help.” “I am very impressed with Rishabh. He really wants the team to do well. The next day I heard him say, ‘What else can I do for the team?’ When your leader thinks like this, the players automatically follow him.
