India vs Zimbabwe: Five potential Indian prospects for the future

In the calendar of events for an Indian cricket team, a Zimbabwean tour is generally ranked amongst the lowest in terms of importance.

Detractors go as far as calling the series a glorified African safari. However, such low-profile series serve as trial grounds for the understudies of the future – players whose futures hinge on performances in the very few opportunities that will come their way.

As in the past, the first three encounters of the Zimbabwean series have produced a few players that have stood out and may go on to perform and do the country proud. Here are five potential gems for the future.

5. Mohammed Shami Ahmed

Blooded into the Indian team earlier this year, Shami Ahmed, the man from Joya Town, Uttar Pradesh, produced a decent performance to return with one wicket from nine overs against Pakistan, not bad for a 23-year-old who was picked after only 15 domestic first class games for Bengal.

But one summer never made a swallow and the man would have to perform consistently to entertain hopes of a permanent place in the Indian side.

In the first three matches in Zimbabwe, Shami has displayed the ability to bowl at pace with the new ball, can seam the ball away from the right handed batsmen, and bowls some of the best lines that we seen in the recent past. It is important for all those concerned with Indian cricket to not only take care of this new find, but to also earmark him for important tours in the future.