Indian pace spearhead Mohammad Shami was spotted at a hospital in Perth a few days ago to take X-Ray of his Left Knee and now he himself has ruled him out from the next game against UAE. He was looking in discomfort even during the game against South Africa, though he completed his spell. He played a pivotal role in India’s win against Proteas and picked up 2 wickets.
In this World Cup he was boling in good rhythm and always seemed to be upto the mark with his line and length as well. The news about his injury has come at a time when the world cup moves into the business end and cannot afford to lose its key players. Shami has taken 6 wickets in this World Cup so far and is bowling with greater zeal and bending his back very well. Much of the Indian chances in the quarter final lingers upon Mohammed Shami’s fitness
Mohammad Shami in his One Day International Career has scalped 76 wickets in 42 matches, so one could always say how crucial a player this lanky, young seemer.
Now Bhuvneshwar Kumar is all set to replace Shami in the eleven, for he himself is coming back after nursing an injury he suffered during the tri-series down under. Kumar and Shami are two different bowlers, but both of them had been extremely crucial for the team in the last 1 year or so. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar comes from the Praveen Kumar school of swing bowling. Kumar is extremely good at swinging conditions which proves that he can be the ideal pacer in the conditions in New Zealand. In last two games against Pakistan & South Africa Shami-Umesh-Mohit combo was working really well with Shami leading the attack.
So, the bottomline is Shami’s fitness is extremely crucial for India’s chances in the world cup, for he leads the attack as well. Without Shami, Indian bowling is half as good as we were in the earlier games.
