There was an opinion among fans and experts that had Mohammed Shami been fit, the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy may have been different. The veteran pacer’s skills can’t be questioned, and had he been fit, there is no doubt he’d be one of the first names on the team sheet. That is why, despite not having certainty over his fitness, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Shami in the India cricket team’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Arshdeep Singh over Shami for Sanjay Bangar
It just shows how much the Indian management values Shami. The pacer was Team India’s best bowler in the ODI World Cup 2023, and BCCI still thinks he’s the best after Jasprit Bumrah. Yet, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar reckons that Team India shouldn’t field Shami and instead opt for Arshdeep Singh.
“You eliminate one of the fast bowlers. If Arshdeep and Bumrah are both available, then you can afford to leave out somebody like Shami. So for me, Shami is not a starter,” Banger said on Star Sports.
More on Cricket
- Hardik Pandya repeat offender, fined for same offence he earned one-match ban
- DC vs SRH My11 Circle Dream11 fantasy tips & playing XIs
- IPL 2025 Live Updates: Double header today, KL Rahul back with DC, Hardik Pandya fined
No Rishabh Pant or Axar Patel
Fascinatingly, neither Axar Patel nor Rishabh Pant find a spot in Banger’s best India XI for the ICC Champions Trophy. He thinks only one of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar will play and picks the senior all-rounder over the junior. KL Rahul is his first choice keeper, and therefore Pant must warm the bench.
“Then one between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel and one reserve wicketkeeper. So in this case, Rishabh Pant may be on the benches,” Bangar added.
Sanjay Bangar’s best India XI for Champions Trophy
- Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill (vc)
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Arshdeep Singh
Remaining players in the squad: Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Shami
Editor's Pick
Cricket
CSK & Gaikwad, please drop liabilities Rahul Tripathi & Deepak Hooda vs RR
Top Stories
