Asia Cup 2022 – India Squad Asia Cup: Will India miss Mohammed Shami? India announced the squad for Asia Cup on August 8. With Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel side-lined due to injury, one expected Mohammed Shami to be picked in the team. The BCCI selectors though, choose youth over experience and included Avesh Khan instead. Shami, who had a terrific IPL 2022 season for Gujarat Titans yet again was ignored. With Bumrah and Harshal unavailable for Asia Cup, Shami’s absence could hurt team India. Follow Asia Cup T20 Cricket Live Updates.
- Shami took 20 wickets in IPL 2022 in 16 matches.
- The right-arm pacer took the majority of wickets in the power play and was accurate with his line and lengths.
- The GT bowler also took the most number of wickets in the power play in IPL 2022.
- Shami is India’s experienced T20 bowler after Bumrah and is also clever with his variations.
Asia Cup 2022: Three reasons why Mohammed Shami’s absence could hurt team India in the Asia Cup: Follow Asia Cup T20 Cricket LIVE UPDATES
Here at InsideSport, we look at three reasons why Mohammed Shami’s absence could hurt team India
1: Shami lethal at the power play
Although Bhuvneshwar Kumar is there in the Asia Cup, India could have gone all-attack by including Shami in the team as well. In the 17 T20Is that the 31-year-old has played for India, he has taken 18 wickets at an average of 31.56. India only have one power play specialist in the team in the form of Kumar. The Rohit Sharma-led side have two death-over specialists in Arshdeep and Avesh.
Shami was also seen in good form in IPL 2022 as he dismissed most number of openers as well. His economy rate was only 8 runs per over, and he took wickets every 18 balls. With only Kumar in the team as a specialist power play bowler, the pressure on him will be immense to deliver. Aakash Chopra opines Shami could have been a better choice than Avesh.
“I think if it was a race between Avesh Khan and Mohammad Shami, I will go with Mohammed Shami with my eyes closed. Nothing against Avesh, but I feel that Shami should have been given a chance with the new ball in the absence of a Jasprit Bumrah,” he added.
Asia Cup 2022: Three reasons why Mohammed Shami’s absence could hurt team India in the Asia Cup: Follow Asia Cup T20 Cricket LIVE UPDATES
2. Dependable wicket-taker at any given stage
Not only power play, but the 31-year-old is also brilliant in the death overs. Case in point he was the designated death bowler for Punjab Kings for two years. In that period, from 2019-2020 he took 25 wickets. He took 19 and 20 wickets respectively for PBKS and was the side’s leading wicket-taker. Also, since IPL 2022, the GT fast bowler has taken 14 death-over wickets, which is the same as Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, and Siraj combined.
So, Shami could have been equally lethal with the ball in hand in the death overs as well in Asia Cup. With Avesh blowing hot and cold, Shami could have been a useful option.
3. Handy option with the bat as well
Some useful runs lower down the order any team would not mind. Shami in recent times has proved he is good with bat in hand as well. He can give the ball a real whack and can quickly turn the match on its head with a few lusty blows. With Arshdeep and Avesh not known for their slogging skills, India will have a longer tail in the Asia Cup. Shami the batter could have provided the team with that additional hitting ability.
Asia Cup 2022: Three reasons why Mohammed Shami’s absence could hurt team India in the Asia Cup: Follow Asia Cup T20 Cricket LIVE UPDATES
India’s squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
Editors pick
