“Should’ve Been Mohammad Shami Ahead of Harshal Patel,” Opines Kris Srikkanth
“If I was the chairman of the selection committee, (Mohammad) Shami is definitely in the team. I would have probably got Shami instead of Harshal Patel.”
India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia was announced yesterday. The selection ensued elaborated discussions as to whether specific players will suit the specific pitches of Australia. The team looks similar to the Asia Cup squad apart from the positive inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah. Moreover, Harshal Patel has also been included in the squad as his fitness has been confirmed, similar to Bumrah.
Mohammad Shami, missing from the Asia Cup altogether, is included in the squad but as a standby. Shami delivered a notable performance in the shortest format, courtesy of IPL. However, the board ignored him for the Asia Cup even in the absence of both Bumrah and Patel. Avesh Khan assisted the team along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. But as the pace attack went flat in UAE, netizens and prominent names from the cricket fraternity demanded a reason to validate Shami’s absence.
Now, Mohammad Shami is ready to be in action in the T20i home series against Australia and South Africa. He had attended the World Cup campaign just as a stand-by player.
Kris Srikkanth puts Mohammad Shami before Harshal Patel
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Speaking about the selection choices, a former Indian cricketer has opined that Shami should’ve been ahead of Patel for the World Cup. Kris Srikkanth has put Mohammad Shami as his primary choice for the main World Cup squad in place of Harshal Patel, just as opposed to the final squad according to the board.
“If I was the chairman of the selection committee, (Mohammad) Shami is definitely in the team. We are playing in Australia, the guy’s got the real action, the guy’s got bounce, he can bare the moment and he can get on early wickets, so I would have probably got Shami instead of Harshal Patel,” said Srikkanth.
“Yes, Harshal Patel is a good bowler, no doubt about it, but Mohammad Shami is the right guy, I mean they can say not the scheme of things, he’s only for test cricket or one day cricket but we are playing in Australia. That guy has done well last IPL, so Shami is the must in my team.”
Mohammad Shami who played for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 edition proved absolutely lethal in the powerplay overs. Shami along with CSK’s Mukesh Chaudhary became the highest-wicket taker in the powerplay overs, both scalping 11 wickets in the early overs.
“Mohammad Shami is a frontline bowler. You check his IPL record from last year. Fantastic! He has got early wickets. Who will give (early wickets)?” questioned Srikkanth.