Shami in for Bumrah in India’s T20 squad

| October 15, 2022

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Shami has already landed in Australia and will join the Indian team in Brisbane for two warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand next week.

Star man Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament earlier this month because of a back injury.

India will open their World Cup campaign against great rivals Pakistan on October 23 in Melbourne and also have South Africa, Bangladesh and two qualifiers in their group.

Two more fast bowlers Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj have been named as reserves and the BCCI said both will fly out to Australia shortly.

Shami has experience of playing in Australia and was India’s second highest wicket-taker during the ODI World Cup in 2019. 

The right-arm quick was due to play in the home T20 series against Australia and South Africa last month but pulled out after he tested positive for COVID-19.

He hasn’t played a T20 international in almost a year since claiming six wickets in five games during the last T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

India’s pace attack will be led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel and allrounder Hardik Pandya as other options.