Shami features in the list of four standby players for the T20 World Cup 2022.
While announcing India’s squads for T20 World Cup and the series against Australia and South Africa, the BCCI had said that "Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be reporting to the NCA for conditioning-related work during the course of the home series against Australia and South Africa."
Therefore, it would be interesting to see the home team’s playing XI for the Australia and South Africa T20I series.
Ahead of the India-Australia series, former openers Gautam Gambhir and Matthew Hayden addressed a press conference organised by Star Sports Network, where they shared their two cents on India’s team combination.
"If Shami starts performing really well, then there would be a lot of question marks for selectors on why he is not on the plane to Australia. And imagine if Arshdeep, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, or Harshal Patel, if one of these are having a bad day, then there would be more question marks. So, go with the guys who you have already picked irrespective of whether they are doing well or not. I know it is tough on Mohammad Shami, but it was anyway tough for him when he was not picked in the squad of 15 for the World Cup," said Gambhir during the press conference.
"So, if you pick him in the XI ahead of any other guys who would be on the plane to Australia, it makes no sense to me. He should just be a backup if someone has a niggle or an injury and one of these guys are not available and you have to pick three fast bowlers. Otherwise, there is going to be a lot of criticism and I am sure selectors will not take that risk," he added.
While Shami wasn’t named in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2022 squad, the right-arm pacer features in the list of four standby players alongside Deepak Chahar, Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
When asked whether Shami should have been a part of India's World Cup squad, Hayden opined: "When you look at someone like Shami, has he got any extra surprises that Australian cricket don't know about or haven't seen before? Yes, he is a brilliant cricketer and he has the ability to take wickets. But is he going to be as good as someone like a Jasprit Bumrah? And I think it is too easy to think about the glass being half-full but you must back yourself."
"That is one thing that is happening around the Australian cricket team regarding Aaron Finch. It is all about that squad, when you cross that line, thinking we have got this. This is our team, we are certain about it," he further remarked.
The three T20Is between India and Australia will be played on September 20, 23 and 25 in Mohali, Nagpur and Hyderabad respectively.
(With NDTV inputs)