Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has tested positive for Covid-19. The pacer was due to play for India in the T20I series against Australia, starting on Tuesday. However, the 32-year-old did not travel to Mohali, where the first game will take place.
JUST IN 🚨#MohammedShami has tested positive for COVID-19 as is ruled out of the #Australia Series. 😑#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/sSJX2jQamX
— BharatVerse (@BHARATVERSE_) September 17, 2022
Experienced pacer Umesh Yadav has been called into the squad as Shami’s replacement. The 33-year-old Yadav was to undergo rehab for a quad injury in Bengaluru. He will play his first T20I in over two years.
Mohammed Shami joins the missing players’ list
India has lost some of its key players ahead of big tournaments in recent times. Earlier, all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja was out with a freak injury from the T20 World Cup team. Before that, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have been out with injuries. However, the duo has recovered from their injuries to make a return to the team.
After seeing the squad, I feel for Sanju Samson. He proofed himself every single time. Didn't got that much chance, but is a perfect power hitter.
Keeping Bowler like Shami in stand by also seems upsetting.
Looks like an average team. Let's hope for great!#T20wc2022 pic.twitter.com/D7a0qkOxf4
— Sandeep Kumar (@sandeep_suga) September 12, 2022
A warhorse, Shami is an experienced pacer who is chosen as a backup pacer for the World Cup squad. He has done well for India in the past World Cups, in 2015 and 2019 in the ODI editions. Shami also bagged crucial wickets in the 2022 IPL. Many cricket fans and experts were in shock when he was missing the 15-member squad, but put on the standby list for the marquee event.
The 32-year-old hasn’t been on the field since July 2022. He last played a T20I in November 2021. Nevertheless, Shami bagged 20 wickets for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. This prompted the selectors to keep him on the standby list.
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India to meet Australia in a new challenge
Rohit Sharma-led India will meet two prominent teams ahead of their preparation for the World Cup. One is the world champions Australia and the other team is Proteas, South Africa. Both the teams travel to India as they search for the right combination ahead of the big event.
Umesh Yadav making his return in T20I format against the same opponent he last played 3 years back in 2019, i.e. Australia. pic.twitter.com/DrAdGOmX28
— MINARUL CRICKET ANALYSE 🏏 (@Minarul66233053) September 17, 2022
The games against the Aussies are taking place on September 20, 23, and 25. After the Australia visit, the Men in Blue will face South Africa for three T20Is, on September 28, October 2, and 4. These are the last T20Is India plays before next month’s World Cup.
