Mohammed Shami set to replace Jasprit Bumrah in India’s T20 WC squad, Siraj to be included in standbys: Report

Mohammed Shami is set to replace Jasprit Bumrah in India’s T20 World Cup squad while Mohammad Siraj is expected to be named on the standby players list. Bumrah was officially ruled out of the T20I showpiece on Monday after BCCI confirmed the news.

Shami recently recovered from Covid-19 but he had last played a T20I game back in the 2021 T20 World Cup. On the other hand, Siraj replaced Bumrah in the T20I series against South Africa but he is yet to get a game.

Deepak Chahar and Mohammad Shami are included in the standby players list for the T20 World Cup and it will be interesting to note who replaces Bumrah in the main squad. Chahar has played in the recent past and the swing bowler has also done a decent job.

Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will take the onus of the fast bowling unit in Australia for the T20 World Cup.

BCCI confirmed on Wednesday that they will soon name Bumrah’s replacement for the marquee event.

“The team management is clear about the like-for-like backups. Chahar has been identified as one for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwar is still the first-choice swing bowler. Shami was seen as a strike bowler as cover for Bumrah. So, Shami is ahead at this point. Siraj is scheduled to travel with the team as a standby,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Bumrah recently returned back to action in the T20I series against Australia but once again complained of back spasm ahead of the first game against South Africa.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan at the MCG on 23rd October.