Team India flew to Australia without the “15th player” of the squad for the T20 World Cup squad. Two weeks out from India’s tournament’s opener against Pakistan on October 23, Rohit Sharma and co. are still working on finalizing the last member of the squad to replace Jasprit Bumrah.
According to a report in PTI, the selectors have decided to name Mohammed Shami as Bumrah’s replacement in the squad, but for that they are waiting for Shami to clear his fitness tests and be declared fit by the NCA.
If the source is to be believed, Shami was always the first-choice backup of Bumrah.
“Mohammed Shami, if fit, was always going to be the first replacement as that’s the closest Indian team can get in terms of sheer quality. He will be joining some time next week,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Even though Shami hasn’t played a T20I since last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, the selectors and Team India management have tilted back to him because of his vast experience in the Australian conditions. He was also in good form during the IPL 2022, helping the Gujarat Titans win the trophy.
Apart from his new-ball form, Shami is a hit-the-deck pacer and also matches Bumrah for pace, characteristics that have put him ahead in the pecking order of Deepak Chahar, who is also in the reserves but is predominantly a new-ball bowler, as Bumrah’s replacement.
But, Shami needs to get fit before October 15, which is the last date when India can name him as Bumrah’s replacement. Shami was slated to make a comeback during the recent home Australia and South Africa T20I series, but went down with covid, and was sent to the NCA in Bangalore to recover.
Indian players in Australia will play a couple of intra-squad practice matches next week, which Shami is likely to miss. He might be available for the two warm-up games against Australia and New Zealand.
India captain Rohit Sharma hinted that Shami will replace Bumrah, citing the experience of the senior seamer.
“We’ve got to get someone in who’s got experience, who’s bowled in Australia, and see what he has to offer,” Rohit said. “I don’t know who that guy is yet. There are a few guys in the reckoning for that, but we’ll make that call once we reach Australia.”
