With Mohammed Shami being ruled out of India’s three-match T20I series against Australia due to Covid 19 reports. Veteran speedster Umesh Yadav got a surprise call-up to the squad as the reserve player. Only seven T20 Internationals have been played by Umesh Yadav in his career. Moreover, he last represented India in this format in 2019.
Many young prospects were waiting in the wings, including Mohammed Siraj, who was fully fit and available, thus Umesh’s choice did raise some eyesbrows. However, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, supported the veteran pacer and highlighted his IPL 2022 performance in his support. He also explained Siraj’s exclusion from the squad.
“There were few options, but few of them are injured like Prasidh (Krishna). Siraj is playing county, we do not want him to fly all the way, maybe play one or two games. That won’t be fair”
ROHIT SAID IN A PRESS CONFERENCE IN MOHALI, WHERE THE FIRST T20I WILL BE PLAYED ON TUESDAY.
The India captain said that Avesh Khan is still healing after becoming unwell during the Asia Cup earlier this month, calling it “unfortunate” that Shami caught Covid just before the series.
Avesh was quite sick in the Asia Cup and he needs some time to recover. From fitness point of view, he needed some time and rebuild his fitness. All those things were considered,”
ROHIT SAID
Rohit addresses worries about Umesh Yadav not having played a lot of T20 cricket for India.
“Guys like Umesh, Shami, who have been bowling for a long time, they do not need to be playing a format to be considered,”
HE SAID.
Also Read: Check out all the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Squads
Rohit backs Umesh, says look at his IPL performance this year
“They have proven themselves as players in whichever format they have played. We understand the quality, it is the new guys on whom it will depend whether they have played this format or not. But guys like Umesh and Shami, if they are fit and fine, they will be called back, We don’t need to look at their form, we saw how Umesh bowled in the IPL. He (Umesh) bowled really well, he swings the ball, bowls fast. That was the thought, pretty simple actually. It was not much of a discussion for us. Keeping in mind World Cup is around the corner, we have tried a lot of players. We are very much clear in our thought process and how we want to move forward,”
ROHIT ADDED
The pacers in India’s primary team are Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, and Arshdeep Singh; Mohammed Shami is still one of the back-up players for them in the T20 World Cup as he is expected to be back in form in fews days.
