India announced their squad for the T20 World in Australia in October-November, and while the side seems balanced, there are many opposing views about players that should or should not have made it to the squad. Joining in the discussions is former India captain Kris Srikkanth, who was not happy with the absence of Mohammed Shami from the team as he believes that the pacer would have been ideal for the bouncy conditions in Australia.
India has gone for Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh as their specialist pacers for the marquee event along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya. And Shami has been included in the four-man standby list, and not in the main squad. The pacer has not played T20I cricket since India's unceremonious exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE.
Despite his absence from the format for India for almost a year, Srikkanth is of the opinion that Shami has been left out of the shortest format of the game. "Mohammed Shami should have been there. You are playing in Australia. Shami can get bounce in Australia, he has a high-arm action. He can get the ball going away from the left-hander, going into the right-hander. In the first 3 overs, he can get 2-3 wickets.
"Why was he not picked? You have Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel good. As far as I am concerned, the 4th medium pacer should have Mohammed Shami. He has done very well in Australia all the time." Srikkanth told Star Sports on Monday.
The veteran pacer picked up 20 on the way to the India Premier League (IPL) title for Gujarat Titans in 2022 and six wickets in five matches during the 2021 edition of the tournament.
"How can you say Shami is not in the scheme of things? He is a very good bowler. Look at his IPL records. Fantastic, he has got the early wickets. You need early breakthroughs, right? Who will give it for you?" Srikkanth said.
Shami will return to India's T20I squad, but for the home series against Australia and South Africa which will be played from September 20 to October 4. Deepak Chahar, who is also part of the standby for the World Cup, is also a part of the 16-man squad.
India Squad for Australia T20Is
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
India squad for South Africa T20Is
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
