IND vs AUS Warm-up LIVE: India Playing XI vs AUS: India vs Australia LIVE: Mohammad Shami is all set to play a T20I for India after nearly a year. The last time he featured in India’s Playing XI in a T20I was back in the T20 World Cup 2021 against Namibia. But with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out, he is all set to come back. The Australia warm-up match will be his first and he has exactly two matches to get his rhythm back Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma will also return to the fold having missed the 2nd practice match. It should be noted that all 15 members of the squad can play. Follow IND vs AUS LIVE & ICC T20 World Cup Warm-Up LIVE Streaming on Disney+Hotstar.
In a curious case, Mohammad Shami returned to the team after being told he was not in plans in T20Is. But with Bumrah out injured, it forced selectors’ hands in recalling him in Australia. Shami has never featured in team management’s plans in T20s. Sample this, Shami has played just 17 matches since his T20I debut back in 2014. That is less than 3 T20Is a year.
But the team management is in a desperate situation. By naming Shami in the T20 World Cup, the selectors have taken a gamble. It may pay off well or it may go wrong as it did in the last T20 WC. Shami bagged just 6 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of 8.84. Against Pakistan and New Zealand, he went for over 11 economy rate in both.
IND vs AUS Warm-up LIVE: Mohammad Shami set to play 1st T20I in nearly a year, Kohli-Rohit to return, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
IND vs AUS Warm-up LIVE – India Playing XI vs AUS: What to expect from India vs Australia Warm-up?
- Although India can play all 15 players, the first XI will be expected to take the field against Pakistan on Oct 23.
- Mohammad Shami having not played any match since the England tour.
- However, he had few sessions at the NCA and the selectors believe that should be enough to get him back on his feet.
- But Shami’s first competitive match will be a high-octane Pakistan clash.
- Hence, he will be aiming to get his rhythm back in the two warm-up games he will get.
- After missing both practice matches, Virat Kohli will be back in the team for Australia warm-up game.
- Rohit Sharma, who skipped the 2nd practice game, will also be back.
- It will be a chance for Rohit Sharma to test the role of 2nd spinner in the Playing XI.
- While Axar Patel is all but certain, the contest is between Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal for the role.
- Deepak Hooda can also be added. But that would force India to compromise in bowling.
IND vs AUS Warm-up LIVE: Mohammad Shami set to play 1st T20I in nearly a year, Kohli-Rohit to return, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
“Injuries are part of the game. Nothing much can be done about it. If you play so many games, there will be injuries. Our focus is on improving bench strength. That’s why you saw that we give chances to youngsters. Shami was down with Covid 2-3 weeks ago. He was at his home, sitting on his farmhouse. Then we called him to NCA. He worked hard there,” Rohit Sharma said of Shami.
As for the batting unit, despite a string of poor shows, Rishabh Pant is likely to get another chance. The team management wants to keep him in the mix in case of any injury. India are without any reserve batters in the T20 World Cup. Shreyas Iyer has been asked to stay back and play in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy instead of travelling to Australia. Hence, even though Dinesh Karthik is set to don the big gloves, Pant will continue to play some part.
India T20 WC Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh. Standby Players: Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer (Did not travel), Ravi Bishnoi (Did not travel)
IND vs AUS Warm-up LIVE: Mohammad Shami set to play 1st T20I in nearly a year, Kohli-Rohit to return, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow T20 World Cup 2022 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.