India’s pace bowler, Mohammed Shami, who has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury, is contemplating his return for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. India’s inaugural match in the tournament is scheduled against Ireland on June 5 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in the US. Shami, absent from action in the recent Test series against South Africa and initially excluded from the squad for the first two Tests against England, may potentially feature in the last three Tests of the series.
Despite these possibilities, Shami emphasizes the significance of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, viewing it as a crucial determinant for his selection. Addressing the media, Shami stated, “There’s an IPL before that. Whoever is playing well should be picked for the T20 World Cup. It’s important to be selecting the team based on the combination. If I’m performing well, I should be selected. Who will say no to the World Cup?”
The ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan serves as India’s final white-ball engagement before the T20 World Cup in June. Shami, alongside fellow senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, has been rested for the current three-match series, with India leading 2-0 ahead of the final game in Bengaluru.
As Shami eyes a potential comeback, the upcoming IPL and subsequent performances will play a pivotal role in shaping his journey towards the T20 World Cup selection.
Mohammed Shami said: “Kisike jane se kisiko farak nahi padta (See, it doesn’t matter who is leaving). You have to see the team’s balance. Hardik was there, he captained us well. He took us to the final in both editions and we won once. But Gujarat hadn’t signed Hardik for a lifetime. It’s his decision to stay or leave. Shubman is made captain now, he will also gain experience. Some day, he might also leave. And it’s a part of the game. Players come and go.”
He added: “When you become captain, it’s important to handle the responsibility while taking care of your performances. And that responsibility has been assigned to Shubman this time. He might have some load in his mind, but the players are more or less the same. So he doesn’t need to worry. You need to manage players well and extract the best out of your players.”
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