His career cut short by weight and injury issues, the 'Rhino' finds solace in Shami's success

Having battled weight and injury issues himself, former Australia pacer and KXIP bowling coach Ryan Harris is not surprised at the benefits a 'leaner' Mohammad Shami has reaped after drastically improving his fitness levels.

Having shed around 8 kgs, Shami has been able to bowl with pace consistently. He has also been able to stay injury-free over the last 12 months, helping him become a much improved bowler and Virat Kohli's go to man in the five-day format.

Harris, one of the stars of Australia's 5-0 rout of England in the 2013-14 Ashes at home before a chronic knee injury cut short his career, could not be happier at Shami's success over the last 18 months including in Australia.

"I don't have to work much on him, he does it himself. He has been outstanding around the (KXIP)group, talking about plans, talking to me. Most guys want to pick his brains. If not the best, he is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment," Harris, who also works with junior Australian teams, told PTI.

How Shami got his mojo back is a case Harris can very much relate to.

"The first couple of days I met him (at KXIP camp), he told me how he improved his fitness and dropped 7-8kgs. How he did some training in hot conditions in Chennai, making him lose weight rapidly.

"Knowing myself as well who went through a stage where I was a little heavy, it makes a big difference when you are not carrying that extra bit of weight. You can go go longer (in your spells) and it is easier on your joints. He is bowling with good pace and good consistency and it is good to to see that."
Shami was one of the architects of India's maiden Test series triumph in Australia
"They (Shami and Bumrah) work well together. You have got Bumrah, who is a bit different and got pace and attacks where as Shami can just come in and ball stump to stump and does a fantastic job. It is pretty well rounded Indian attack, you have to say."
"His action is unique, he bowls the way he does because of that action and he bowls with pace, you know he is just different. It is a difficult for a batter to face him, he is a bit like Malinga. That is his strength, he is not like anyone else."
"There has been a little bit of talk about that. It is up to the captain and the bowler if he wants to do it and he (Ashwin) decided to do that. At the end of the day, the batter should stay in his crease. That is the only way it is not going to happen."
Would he have run Buttler out in the same way?