ICC T20 World Cup 2022: "It Will Be The Same Bowling Attack As The Last T20 World Cup, But These Guys Have Gotten Better" - Parthiv Patel Vouches For The Inclusion Of Mohammed Shami For The Tournament

For the 2022 T20 World Cup, India should select the pace three of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, according to the former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. In the lead-up to the competition, the Men in Blue have tested with players like Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, and Arshdeep Singh for the position of the third seamer. 

Shami had a successful season with the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), but he still isn’t a factor in T20Is. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, when he bagged six wickets at an economy of 9.57, the right-arm bowler made his last appearance in a T20I while wearing national colours. 

Mohammed Shami May Not Be A Bad Choice: Parthiv Patel

Patel said why it couldn’t be ruled out that Shami will make a comeback into India’s T20 lineup by using Dinesh Karthik as an example. He stated in a conversation with Cricbuzz: 

“If you look at Dinesh Karthik, his IPL performances help him get selected for India. Mohammad Shami’s performance in the IPL has been really great as well, he’s won Gujarat Titans (GT) the trophy, and he was instrumental in getting those early wickets.

So, he may not be a bad choice. It will be the same bowling attack as the last World Cup, but these guys have gotten better.” 

Given the climate in Australia for the T20 World Cup, the team captained by Rohit Sharma is expected to have three frontline seamers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah may have cemented their positions with their talent and experience, bringing the race for the third seamer to a close. 

In recent years, the Bengal pacer’s services have been restricted by the Indian team management to just Tests and ODIs. After the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shami has not been picked for any bilateral T20I matches. The selectors’ goals and objectives for the T20 World Cup have not changed, not even after a successful IPL season that included 20 wickets. 

Parthiv Patel Surprised By Mohammed Shami’s Absence

Patel said the following regarding the Indian fast bowling team for the competition: 

“Powerplay is where Bhuvi bowls the best, if it is swinging, I don’t think there is a better bowler than him.

Even if it does not swing in Australia, he will bowl two overs upfront without a doubt, then there is Bumrah and Arshdeep, I am still surprised why India is not considering Mohammad Shami as a new ball bowler, especially in those conditions.” 

It is doubtful that the right-arm fast would return to the shortest version of the game with only a few T20Is remaining before the eagerly anticipated World Cup. 

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