One spot, three contenders, Shami, Ashwin & Shardul fight for spot in IND vs PAK

After two back-to-back wins, Team India’s bandwagon has now moved to Ahmedabad for the blockbuster IND vs PAK match in the World Cup, on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. India made one change in their previous match against Afghanistan, bringing in Shardul Thakur, in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. However, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will have a big headache ahead of the Pakistan clash. With Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur in contention for one spot, who will find a place in XI?

Why Team India can go with Mohammed Shami vs Pakistan?

Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is yet to play a match for India in World Cup 2023. However, he might get to play his first game in this tournament against Pakistan as India might be tempted to pick a premium pacer on a batting deck.

Talking about Shami’s record against Pakistan in ODIs, the pacer has not played much against the arch rivals. Shami has picked up 5 wickets in 3 ODI matches vs Pakistan so far.

Shami has bowled a total of 28 overs to the Men in Green in ODIs in which he has conceded 107 runs. The pacer’s best against Pakistan is 4/35.

Experienced Ashwin vs Pakistan?

While Team India will be vary of Ahmedabad’s batting pitch, Rohit Sharma can go with Ravichandran Ashwin due to the big boundaries at Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite going for runs, spinners have managed to extract assist from the surface in the past. Ashwin’s batting ability might also prompt India to go with the veteran off-spinner for the big match.

Batting depth over bowling depth vs Pakistan?

With the Ahmedabad pitch set to yield runs, Team India might be tempted to continue with Shardul for IND vs PAK clash. However, the kind of form the top order showed in the last game against Afghanistan, it is possible that the Men in Blue will not need a batting insurance at number 8 and rather pick a pure bowler in the team.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra also shared the same sentiments and suggested that Team India should go with Shami rather than Shardul.

“Shardul is also a run-a-ball player at the position he bats. It’s not that he will score 45 runs off 20 balls. He is not that sort of a player. He doesn’t play like that. The team wants a little batting depth at No. 8, a bit of insurance and assurance and that is why Shardul is there but I feel Mohammed Shami should be there,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

It would be interesting to see with whom Team India will go with for the big clash to make it 3 out of 3 wins in the tournament.

India Squad for Cricket World Cup 2023

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav

WKs: Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (VC)

Seam all-rounders: Shardul Thakur

Spin all-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin

Seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Spinner: Kuldeep Yadav