India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami has tested positive for Covid-19 and he is likely to be ruled out of the three-match T20I series against Australia. Shami didn’t travel with the team to Mohali, where the first match of the series will be played.
The experienced seamer was drafted into the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup after he was named on the reserve players list for the marquee event. Shami had last played for the national team in the 2021 T20 World Cup but since then hasn’t got any opportunities.
In fact, the veteran pacer had picked 20 wickets in 16 matches for Gujarat Titans in Tata IPL 2022. Shami had impressed while bowling in the PowerPlay overs as he got the ball to swing both ways.
On the other hand, Umesh Yadav has been named as the replacement. Yadav had last played a T20I match for India two years ago. The right-arm fast bowler had scalped 16 wickets in 12 matches while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022.
In fact, Yadav had also done a fine job while playing for Middlesex in the Royal One Day but his stint was cut short due to a quad injury. He was undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru but got a call-up to the national squad after Shami tested positive for Covid-19.
Yadav had scalped 16 wickets in seven matches for Middlesex. The right-arm fast bowler will look to grab his opportunity against Australia if he gets a chance in the final XI of the team.
The first T20I will be played in Mohali on 20th September.
India Squad for Australia T20Is:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
