"Bring Mohammed Shami In His Place": Harbhajan Singh Wants This India Star To Be Dropped vs New Zealand

21.10.2023 - 12:01 sports.ndtv.com

Team India suffered a major blow during their previous ODI World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh as their vice-captain Hardik Pandya picked up an ankle injury.

The star all-rounder limped off the pitch and was monitored by team physio. However, the BCCI on Friday announced that Hardik will be missing out on India's next match against New Zealand, which will be played in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22.

Hardik's absence has now put the team management in dilemma as they now have to find new combinations for the match against the Blackcaps.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has come up with a suggestion for the hosts as he stated that the Rohit Sharma-led side should include the likes of Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav, in place of Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin. "It's a big issue for India if Hardik Pandya is not fit.

cricket India Cricket Team Bangladesh Cricket Team World Cup 2023 Hardik Pandya Team India Mohammed Shami Harbhajan Singh Australia New Zealand India Bangladesh

Mohammed Shami claimed another five-wicket haul as India comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka to book their spot in the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinals on Thursday. India posted a mammoth total of 357/8 thanks to significant knocks from Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. In reply, Sri Lanka were all out for 55 with Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah in red hot form. Shami dismissed Kasun Rajitha to complete his five-wicket haul and he went on to celebrate with a special gesture. He put the ball on his head and pointed towards the dressing room - an action that left fans on social media confused. However, after the match, Shubman Gill explained the gesture.

"Just A Matter Of...": Mohammed Shami Decodes His Success At Cricket World Cup 2023

Mohammed Shami feels that the success he has had with the white ball for India is no "rocket science" but just a matter of finding the right line length and keeping the rhythm. Shami claimed his second 5-wicket haul in the ongoing World Cup powering India to the semi-finals following a sensational display with the bat in the first innings. His spell was crucial against Sri Lanka as the Lions succumbed to a total of 55 and lost the game by 302 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. For the first few games, he was unable to find a place in the playing XI, but after his arrival, he has become an irreplaceable cog in India's machinery.

Cricket World Cup 2023: Mohammed Shami Makes History, Claims Two Massive Feats With Five-Wicket Haul Against Sri Lanka

India hammered Sri Lanka by 302 runs in Mumbai on Thursday as the unbeaten tournament hosts reached the Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals with a crushing victory. Sri Lanka collapsed to 55 all out inside 20 overs, having been set 358 to win. Mohammed Shami took 5-18 in five overs after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj struck with the new ball in an innings featuring five ducks and a top score of just 14. Both Sri Lanka openers fell for golden ducks as they slumped to 14-6. Bumrah, with 1-8 in five overs, and Siraj (3-16 in seven) did the early damage before Shami took two wickets in two balls as Sri Lanka's rapid collapse continued.

India vs Sri Lanka, Cricket World Cup 2023: Mohammed Shami Shines As India Enter Semi-Finals With 302-Run Win

In a repeat of the Asia Cup final, Mohammed Siraj's sensational spell was shadowed by Mohammed Shami who took the onus to send India to the semi-finals of the World Cup after a thumping 302-runs victory at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Since Shami's arrival in India's playing XI, the pace trio has been unstoppable and once again the batters succumbed in front of their prowess. Bumrah on the very first ball sent Pathum Nissanka back for a golden duck with a delivery that swung away sharply found an edge on its way and hit the pads right in front of the stumps.

"Mohammed Shami Is Underrated Because He Is Not Jasprit Bumrah": Ex-England Star

The Cricket World Cup 2023 has been an edition to remember for India pacer Mohammed Shami so far. Shami, who was initially kept out of the team's playing XI in their first four games, got his opportunity in the fifth match and he returned with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand. In the next game, which was against England, Shami picked four wickets. After playing just two games in the ongoing tournament, the 33-year-old pacer claimed nine wickets.

"Exactly What Kapil Dev Used To Do...": Sunil Gavaskar's Sensational Take On Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami has been enjoying a brilliant run of form in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 and the Indian cricket team fast bowler was instrumental in his team's 100-run victory over defending champions England in Lucknow on Sunday. Shami took four wickets to break the English resistance after India posted a modest total of 229 on a pitch that had a lot of help for pacers. Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for Shami as he pointed out that he is extremely clear about the kind of deliveries that he wants to bowl in specific situations and even namedropped World Cup winning all-rounder Kapil Dev.