Former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan has chosen his preferred quartet of seamers for the Indian squad for the much-awaited T20I World Cup 2024.
In the recent T20I series against Afghanistan, India included three specialist seamers in their squad: Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and Avesh Khan. Mukesh featured in all three matches, Arshdeep played in the first two, and Avesh replaced him in the last T20I.
Zaheer Khan Named India’s 4 Seamers For The 2024 T20I World Cup
In a Colors Cineplex discussion, Zaheer Khan identified Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh as his initial three choices for seamers in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He said:
“I feel you will see (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Siraj for sure. After that, Arshdeep (Singh), you will get a slight variation because he is a left-armer. He bowls good yorkers. So that is an added advantage.”
According to Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami could serve as an X-factor for the Indian team at the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Shami is known for his effectiveness with the ball, and Zaheer sees him as a valuable asset for India in the tournament. He said:
“Then I believe (Mohammed) Shami because if he is fit and available, he can be an X-factor option for you during the World Cup. So I will pick these four pacers because four pacers should go for sure.”
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During the T20I series against Afghanistan, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were given rest, and Mohammed Shami was unavailable due to an ankle injury. However, in the ODI World Cup held the previous year, this trio played a crucial role in India’s journey to the final, showcasing their potency as a seam-bowling unit.
Further, Pragyan Ojha agreed with Zaheer Khan’s choices, suggesting that Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh should be among the preferred seam-bowling options for the Indian squad in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He said:
“If the master has said it, let’s put a stamp on that itself. It’s absolutely the right thing. If you talk about Bumrah and Siraj, they are confirmed. The only thing is that you need a left-arm seamer which Arshdeep offers.”
Zaheer Khan also included Mohammed Shami as his fourth preferred seamer for the Indian squad in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Mohammed Shami, who claimed 24 wickets, emerged as the leading wicket-taker during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Additionally, he secured the Purple Cap for being the highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2023. Shami will aim to showcase his T20 prowess once more in the upcoming edition of the league.
Speaking about Shami, Zaheer said: “If Shami is fit, the sort of World Cup he had, you won’t want to keep him far. The way the ball is moving from his hand, you need him for sure.”
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