The Indian pace troika, comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj, has been sensational in the matches that they have played together in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Shami warmed the bench for the first four games as the Indian team management preferred to go with the two seam-bowling all-rounders – Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
However, Hardik’s ankle injury during the match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19, which eventually ruled him out of the tournament, paved the way for Shami’s inclusion in the XI.
Since then, the Indian fast bowlers have been running through the opposition batting line-ups, bundling out teams like England, Sri Lanka and South Africa for 129, 55 and 83 respectively.
In particular, Shami has dented the opponents with a flurry of wickets, claiming 16 scalps from four outings at an astonishing average of 7 with two five-wicket hauls.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, former India opener Gautam Gambhir explained why Shami would end up with more wickets than Bumrah in the showpiece tournament.
Bumrah currently has 15 wickets to his name in the World Cup 2023 after playing eight matches.
“I think Shami because people do not take on Jasprit Bumrah. He’s too good a bowler for an opposition to take him on. A lot of times, the best bowler will not have the most number of wickets. The reason is that the opposition thinks let’s see him off. If you observe Jasprit Bumrah’s initial spell, no one wants to take him on. A lot of times, the team’s best bowler would have a very good economy rate, but he won’t have a lot of wickets,” Gambhir said.
“I feel Shami [will take more wickets], from the point of view that opposition will look to attack him because of Jasprit Bumrah. And he’s bowling one change. I still feel Jasprit Bumrah is the X factor in the team. This Indian team is such a strong team because of him. But Shami will have more wickets," he added.
India have qualified for the World Cup 2023 semi-final without losing a match in the league stage so far. The Men in Blue are due to face Netherlands in their last league fixture in Bangalore on November 12.
Unless Pakistan and Afghanistan pull off something miraculous, the Rohit Sharma-led side will take on New Zealand in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15.
