India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2022, starting August 27 in the UAE, has been announced. Big blow: Rohit Sharma will miss these two top players in Asia Cup. In this, fast bowler Mohammed Shami has not been selected. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel due to injuries, many players expected Shami to take charge of the new ball on the Dubai and Sharjah pitches.
But with India’s fast bowler option in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, many were left puzzled when Shami did not find a place in the team. This tournament is the initial blueprint for the Indian team going for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November.
Mohammed Shami has not played T20 for India since he was knocked out of the Super 10 stage of the T20 World Cup in UAE last year. After that, India has given chance to Bumrah, Harshal, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh, Arshdeep, Deepak Chahar, Mohammad Siraj, Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur as pace bowlers in T20s (including Pandya). Not that Shami has been ignored at all.
Mohammed Shami T20 record has not been as impressive as his Tests and ODIs. In 17 T20Is, Shami has taken 18 wickets at an average of 31.55 and an economy rate of 9.54, which is higher than his IPL career average and economy rates of 29.19 and 8.52. His IPL wickets have not been impressive till the 2018 season.
However, after picking up 19, 20 and 19 wickets in IPL 2019, 2020 and 2021 with economy rates of 8.68, 8.57 and 7.50 respectively, Shami went on to the T20 World Cup, where he averaged 23.33 and economy in five matches. Took six wickets at 8.84. But he didn’t even get a wicket against Pakistan and New Zealand, where it was difficult to bowl second due to dew later in the second innings.
He took 6 wickets against Afghanistan and Scotland, after which India were already knocked out before going to the semi-finals. However, Shami impressed everyone with his key wicket-taking skills (20 wickets at an economy rate of 8) in Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2022 trophy. In IPL 2022, Shami also took 11 wickets in the power-play, which was equal to that of Chennai Super Kings fast bowler Mukesh Chaudhary.
In IPL 2022 pitches, where the bowlers were getting some help, Shami managed to trouble the batsmen. But India also have power-play options in the form of Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep. Chahar has been announced as a back-up player for the Asia Cup to make a comeback due to injuries. But no place was given to Shami.
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And also India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could be doubtful for T20 World Cup as things stand. Bumrah has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 with a ‘back injury’. But it is the same serious injury that derailed his plans in 2019. It has resurfaced again. Both BCCI and selectors are worried, with just a month left to announce the squad for T20 World Cup 2022. Rohit Sharma Asia Cup
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