World Cup: The Indian team will continue to support medium-pace all-rounder Shardul Thakur over Mohammed Shami for their fourth league game against Bangladesh at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to be held in Pune on Thursday.
Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach for the Indian team, emphasized that there is no plan to rotate bowlers, indicating that both Shami and spinner R Ashwin are unlikely to feature in the upcoming game.
Mhambrey mentioned that squad selection is based on the conditions of the pitch, and difficult decisions must be made. He acknowledged that leaving out a quality player like Shami is challenging, given his abilities with the new ball and at the death. However, with only eleven players allowed on the field, such decisions are inevitable.
Shami’s last appearance for India was against Australia in Indore. The Indian team has focused on strengthening its batting lineup, ensuring that they have more capable batsmen in the lower order.
The team management appears committed to maintaining their current starting eleven, especially since they are on a winning streak. Mhambrey stated that they aim to continue their momentum in the next game.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah due to injury was deeply felt by the Indian team, especially in major tournaments. Bumrah’s return to international cricket has provided a significant boost to India’s bowling lineup.
Mhambrey expressed the difficulty of missing a world-class bowler like Bumrah and highlighted the vital role he plays in providing breakthroughs in power plays, performing well in the middle overs, and excelling as a death bowler.
In addition to the fast bowlers, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also contributed significantly to India’s performance. The team has worked on improving his bowling, resulting in increased speed, improved accuracy, and the ability to consistently hit the right lengths. Kuldeep Yadav is now considered a valuable wicket-taking option for the team.