Madan Lal also opined on India's spin attack and KL Rahul's form.
India’s 1983 World Cup-winning pacer Madan Lal has expressed disappointment over fast bowler Mohammad Shami’s exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
He also questioned the selection of three spinners (R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Akshar Patel) in the squad.
However, the former India coach was pleased with India's pace attack and stated that Shami should have been included in the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022. Shami will travel to Australia as one of the four standby players.
Madan Lal told IANS: “He (Shami) is your big match bowler. And in Australia, he could be really important. I don't understand why he is not in the 15-man squad. He is the kind of bowler who, in the first three overs, can get you wickets.”
Questioning picking three spinners for the tournament, the former coach said: “See you need a good bowling unit if you want to win the tournament. No matter if your team scores 180 but you do not have good bowling to defend it. They (India) picked three spinners for Australia.”
He added, “I don't think spinners can get many benefits out there. On one odd day or wicket, they can be useful but for the entire tournament, you need a solid pace bowling unit there in Australia.”
Speaking about India’s pace attack for T20 World Cup 2022, Madan Lal noted: “I am happy that Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel are back in the team. Their fitness will be monitored in the upcoming series as well. Arshdeep Singh is learning well, and Bhuvi is also there but India should have added Shami to the squad. He is your experienced bowler and conditions Down Under can help him.”
He also backed KL Rahul to find his form like Virat Kohli.
The former pacer added, “He will be fine and can make a comeback, I am sure. Virat Kohli was also struggling but he made a solid comeback and Rahul too is a good batter and can turn things around in India's favor.”
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Lal signed off by saying, “I am not much concerned about India's batting order. They all are fine. Also, India should learn from Sri Lanka like they played in the Asia Cup final. Despite losing five wickets for 50 they kept fighting and made a good total at the end.”
Here’s India's squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2022 –
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Standby players: Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.
(With IANS Inputs)