In the World Cup 2023, Mohammed Shami emerged as India’s most successful bowler with 24 wickets in seven matches. That was also the highest by any player in the entire tournament across teams. He averaged a paltry 10.70, and had an economy under six. What more can a bowler ask for in a tournament like the World Cup. But one only wonders, why Shami wasn’t played in the first four matches of the tournament, and only considered when Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to an injury.
The reason could be team balance, perhaps an injury, or the Indian management only looks at Shami as a replacement bowler in white-ball formats, given his age, and susceptibility to getting injured. That also puts Shami’s spot for the T20 World Cup 2024 in jeopardy for all the same reasons.
Now, a report in PTI has emerged, which says, Shami could be nursing an ankle injury. The report suggests that for now, he won’t be considered for white-ball cricket, and a lot of his chances to make it to the T20 World Cup 2024, rest on the way he performs at the IPL. This could also be the reason why he wasn’t picked for the white-ball series against South Africa.
“The national selectors wouldn’t have selected him had there not been a chance of him getting fit in time for the Boxing Day Test,” a BCCI official, privy to the development, was quoted as saying by PTI on conditions of anonymity.
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