'No rift between Dhoni & Virat'

Insisting that all was well in the Indian cricket dressing room, pacer Mohammed Shami on Saturday said reports of rift between Test captain Virat Kohli and ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni are simply wrong.“That the team is divided and the team is not performing — there is no truth in these things. I have shared the dressing room with all of them including Virat and Mahi Bhai. I never felt anything like that (there is a rift between them). If media is making an issue then it is wrong,” he said.

The injured pacer is in the city undergoing fitness training at the National Cricket Academy. Shami has been out of action since the World Cup due to discomforting pain and injury in his left knee.Shami also requested media not to highlight “baseless” stories of disunity and rift between Kohli and Dhoni, and instead write about the team’s ad players’ performance.

“I request media not to highlight these baseless stories. This only divides the team, and affects team’s and players’ performance,” he said.

Asked whether Dhoni should give up captaincy after a poor show by India against Bangladesh, Shami said it is not fair to draw conclusions on the basis of one bad series.

“I like his captaincy, I mean look at his record. Mahi Bhai has won us World Cups in all formats of the game. One should not draw conclusions based on just two series where we haven’t performed. According to me, he should continue,” he said.Asked when is he likely to begin bowling in the nets, Shami hoped that he would be able to do that next month onwards.

“I cannot write and give, but I hope to start bowling in the nets next month,” he said. Shami has been out of action since the World Cup after he complained of pain in his knees.After he was ruled out of last IPl, Shami, who was the fourth highest wicket-taker of the World Cup with 17 wickets in seven matches, underwent knee surgery in New Delhi. Asked how is he feeling after five to six days of his rehabilitation at the NCA, Shami said his body is in a better shape now.

“From past five to six days, I have been undergoing fitness training here. I am now in a comfort zone and my body is not feeling tight. There is no problem and I am slowly increasing the weight,” he said.Asked if Dhoni missed his services in the dismal Bangladesh tour, Shami said indisciplined bowling cost India the series for the first time against the hosts.

“The series against Bangladesh went awry. As far as bowling is concerned, it is important to pick wickets with new ball in first 10 overs and in powerplays. That probably did not happen. We picked wickets late which resulted in Bangladesh scoring many runs. Even the line and length was a bit indisciplined,” he said.to start bowling soonInjured India pacer Mohammed Shami hopes to start bowling in the nets from next month, saying his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) was going in the right direction.

Shami has been out of action since World Cup due to a knee problem and recently underwent a surgery. He missed out on IPl and the Bangladesh tour.

“I hope to start bowling in the nets next month. I am now in a comfort zone and my body is not feeling tight. There is no problem and I am increasing the weight,” Shami said.

Shami said he was focused on completing his rehabilitation process rather than talking to former pacemen who are regular visitors at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).It is not necessary to get tips from the international players because now I am most of the time with doctor and the physio. In my reckoning, this is more important for me at this point of time,” he said.

Asked how difficult it will be for him to get back into the Indian team with stiff competition for spots, Shami said, “Whoever performs well, should be in the team.”Talking about Indian team’s dismal Bangladesh tour, Shami said the failure to strike early and indiscipline bowling cost India the ODI series. “The series against Bangladesh went awry. This never happened. As far as bowling is concerned, it is important to pick wickets with new ball in first ten overs and during in power plays. That did not happen,” he said.