Indian cricket team has come out with a shocking decision of resting Mohammad Shami for the must-win second One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand on Saturday (February 8) in Auckland.
India made two changes to their playing XI that lost the first ODI at Hamilton – recalling the fast bowler Navdeep Saini for Shami and leg-spinner Yuzvendra for the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav for the second ODI of the three-match series against the Black Caps.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, India captain Virat Kohli revealed that “Shami has been rested because of the upcoming Test series” while explaining the changes at Eden Park.
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Well, the decision didn’t go down with many fans and cricket experts and veteran Indian off-spinner and commentator Harbhajan Singh were especially stunned by the Shami’s snub from the Playing XI.
However, he was agreed with Saini’s selection but bamboozled that Shami was overlooked for Shardul Thakur despite he conceded 80 runs off 9 overs in the Hamilton ODI.
Harbhajan told Star Sports in the pre-match show, “I don’t know why he (Shami) is not playing” while opining Saini should have replaced Thakur instead of Shami in India’s playing XI for the second ODI against the Black Caps which is being played in Auckland.
Meanwhile, Indian legend Kapil Dev also defended Navdeep Saini’s inclusion for the Auckland ODI.
The World Cup-winning captain told ABP News, “You need a wicket-taking option. It is important to get Saini in the side not because India has lost the first ODI but he deserves a place in the side because of his pace and wicket-taking abilities. Look at Bumrah, he forces New Zealand to play him watchfully because whenever batsmen try to attack these bowlers can get wickets.”
New Zealand, on the other hand, also made two changes, dropping Mitchell Santner for Mark Chapman while handed maiden cap to fast bowler Kyle Jamieson who replaced the leg-spinner, Ish Sodhi, in the XI which went they went without a specialist spinner in the Auckland ODI.
(With ABP News/Star Sports Inputs)
