Former Indian bowler Ashish Nehra believes that Mohammed Shami will not be selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, but that the management may decide to use him for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
After a successful season with the Gujarat Titans, Shami is taking a break. He will most likely join the Indian squad for the 5th Test in England, but his white-ball presence may begin to wane.
Mohammad Shami doesn’t feature in current scheme: Ashish Nehra
India must play Shami in the upcoming ODI series in England, according to Ashish Nehra. Shami is currently out of the ongoing T20I series between India and South Africa, having last played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022, and an ODI in November 2020, and a T20I in November 2021.
“Seems like he doesn’t feature in the current scheme of things for the T20 World Cup. But we all know about his abilities. Even if he doesn’t play in this year’s T20 World Cup, India will definitely consider him for the 2023 World Cup at home. We don’t have many ODIs this year and Shami is on a break at the moment after the IPL. India can play him in England for the 50-over games after the Test match,” Nehra said.
Shami is not in India’s squad for the current five-match T20I series against South Africa, nor is he in the squad for the upcoming two-match away T20I series against Ireland. He is one of 16 players who will travel to England for a one-off Test match in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and is expected to start. On the tour, India will play three T20Is and three ODIs.
“You will play three ODI games against a top-quality white-ball team like England, and you would definitely love to beat them. And for that, you need your best bowlers. I would definitely take Shami in that bracket,” Nehra added.
