Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram feels that Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has become more difficult to drop as a result of his brilliant performance against New Zealand. The right arm-pacer was brought in the absence of Hardik Pandya and impressed everyone with a match-winning performance against the 2019 Runner-ups.
Mohammed Shami played in his first World Cup 2023 game on Sunday against New Zealand. The right-arm pacer made an incredible comeback to the playing XI, picking up 5/54 and earned Player of the Match. Several experts believe that Shami has made it difficult for the team management to ignore him even when Hardik Pandya recovers from injury.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Wasim Akram feels that the Indian team looks extremely good even in the absence of their Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and urged the Indian team management to rest him for the game against the defending champions to give him some more time to recover for injury completely.
“This squad looks good even without Pandya. If he is fit then well and good. It will be difficult to drop Shami now. I feel India shouldn’t risk Pandya (against England) because if it’s an injury to a hamstring or quad, then although you feel good initially, you could pull a muscle in the match. So let him recover 100 per cent and then you can play him,” Wasim Akram said.
During the game between India and Bangladesh, All-rounder Hardik Pandya twisted his ankle while attempting to use his right foot to stop Bangladesh opener Litton Das’ straight shot with the third delivery of the ninth over twisted his left ankle and fell to the ground, which ruled him out of the game against New Zealand in Dharamsala.
When Shami’s Ball Hits The Seam, It Can Deviate Either Way – Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram hailed the Indian team management for keeping all their players in good shape, as everyone who comes into the playing 11 seems to contribute to the team’s success and highlighting the performance of Mohammed Shami against New Zealand on Sunday.
“Credit to the team management that whenever any player in the squad comes into the XI, he seems ready. When Shami’s ball hits the seam, it can deviate either way. That’s why I think Shami for me was the player of the match,” Wasim Akram added.
Rohit Sharma and the team management might opt to keep Shami in the starting XI even when Hardik Pandya returns to the playing 11. In his three games, Shardul Thakur has been a little unsteady and failed to make an impact.