Mohammed Shami has replaced Jasprit Bumrah in India’s T20 World Cup squad. According to a BCCI release, Shami has touched down in Australia and will link with the squad in Brisbane ahead of India’s two official warm-ups against the hosts and New Zealand on October 17 and 19 respectively.
In Australia, Shami will join a seam -bowling attack comprising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, with Hardik Pandya as an all-round option.
Shami hasn’t played any form of cricket in the last three months. He was named in India’s T20I squad for the home series against Australia and South Africa in September but couldn’t play after being covid+. He last played a T20I match during the 2021 World Cup in the UAE where he took six wickets in five games of the tournament.
The Indian team has dealt with a number of blows in last couple of months before the World Cup. Ravindra Jadeja, the all-rounder, was the first to be ruled out due to a knee injury. The news of Bumrah’s back injury came a few weeks ago before the team departed for Australia. Stand-by pacer Deepak Chahar was also ruled out due to back injury few days ago.
According to BCCI sources, Stand-by players – Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi will remain in India and will travel to Australia for the World Cup only if the team needs their service. The other two stand-by pacers – Siraj and Shardul will join the team in Brisbane.
India Squad T20 World Cup 2022: Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul(vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Dinesh Kartik(wk), Rishabh Pant(wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh & Mohammed Shami
Image credits: Khaleej Times
