MS Shanker :

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s sweeping statement soon after India’s debacle in the Asia Cup that the team for the World Cup scheduled this year is almost done and only scope for just 10 percent replacements. That triggered an interesting debate as the selectors replaced Deepak Hooda and Avesh Khan with Jaspreet Bumrah and Arshal Patel. Does that mean they done with the World Cup squad?

Interestingly, the selectors however announced Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Shreeya Iyer, and Deepak Hooda as the four standby players. Usually, these may find a place only if there is unforeseen injuries to any of those 15-member squads.  

Former Indian skipper and selector Dilip Vengsarkar feel Mohammad Shami and Umran Mallik could have been in the squad besides retaining Deepak Hooda. However, he could not pick up the courage, to name who these players could have been in the 15-member squad. Was he hinting that Umar Mallik could have been in place of Harshal Patel or Arshdeep or Bhuvanesh Kumar?

If Harshal Patel is considered an allrounder, Bhubanesh Kumar, is experienced and perfectly suits the T20 format, though the two matches in the recently concluded Asia Cup, proved disastrous, more so against Sri Lanka wherein he had given 19 runs in the penultimate over, which led India’s exit from the challenger. As far Arshdeep is concerned, the youngster showed promise in controlling the strike rate in dead-over, though he too trolled for that simple catch in the crucial match against Pakistan.

The dropping of Avesh Khan was expected as he could not better utilize the opportunity that he got in the Asia Cup. Similarly, batter Deepak Hooda had also failed miserably. More so when the selectors and team management seem to have decided to settle go ahead with openers KL Rahul and skipper Rohit Sharma.  

Against that backdrop, the Indian selectors seem to have almost finalized the 15-member squad that they picked up for the upcoming T20 matches against Australia and South Africa before the World Cup this year-end, by roping in Jaspreet Bumrah and Arshal Patel. Many cricket buffs feel the selectors were justified in axing Avesh Khan and Deepak Hooda.

But, the former Indian skipper and selector Vengsarkar is not satisfied with the team that was picked up for the T20 matches against the upcoming series against Australia and South Africa. He is of the firm view that Shami and Umran Mallik could have been in the 15-member squad. He also expressed his displeasure for dropping batter Deepak Hooda.

"I would have picked Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik, and Shubman Gill for the T20 World Cup. Would have given them a long run in T20Is because they all had a brilliant IPL season," he said and added; "I can't comment on who bats at what number. It is up to the think tank, the coach, the captain, and the vice-captain. But I feel Suryakumar Yadav, who is batting at 4, can bat at 5 as well. He can be a great finisher," he said. Several former players, including ex-head coach Ravi Shastri, expressed surprise about Shami not being in the reckoning for the T20 World Cup despite being the highest wicket-taker for the Gujarat Titans in their title-winning season in the IPL this year. 

Many feel Mohammad Shami can easily replace Arshdeep, as the former is an experienced bowler. Yet, should a promising youngster like Arshdeep be made a sacrificial goat? No doubt, Umran Mallik can generate over 145 km, yet he is erratic and hence the selectors may feel justified.  

If Vengsarkar considers Suryakumar Yadav as a great finisher, the little master Sunil Gavaskar backs Hardik Patel can be better considered and he event went to the extent of the may prove as good as Ravi Shashi who did in 1985 with bat and ball.

Indian T20 squad against Australia and South Africa:  Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.