Former India Chief Selector’s ‘Horses for Courses’ Approach: Sky Could Replace Iyer In Playing XI Against Bangladesh At WC

The former chief selector of BCCI has provided insights into the limited roles that Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami are expected to play for India in the World Cup.

Written by: Shivani Kumari

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: October 18, 2023

Summary: The former chief selector of BCCI has provided insights into the limited roles that Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami are expected to play for India in the World Cup.

As the 2023 ICC World Cup continues to witness surprising upsets and historic victories in India, Rohit Sharma and his team are determined to steer clear of the latest trend in the tournament's round-robin phase. Following their dominant seven-wicket victory over Babar Azam's Pakistan, maintaining an impeccable World Cup record against the Green Army, Rohit and his squad are now striving to secure their fourth consecutive win in the current tournament when facing Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, known for causing upsets, is drawing inspiration from Afghanistan and the Netherlands as they aim to hand India their first defeat in the ODI World Cup at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. While India has reintroduced opener Shubman Gill into the playing XI for the crucial match against Pakistan, the team remains committed to maintaining an unchanged starting eleven.

Notable players like superstar Suryakumar Yadav and seasoned fast bowler Mohammed Shami have been kept on the sidelines by the Indian management, despite India's flawless performance in the ODI World Cup. The question arises: will India consider alterations for the match against Bangladesh? Is it time for Shardul Thakur to step aside for Shami? Former chief selector MSK Prasad has provided insights into the conditions under which India might decide to include the eager-to-play Shami in their World Cup playing XI.

"They're tailoring their selections to the conditions, which has been very successful. For instance, they used Ashwin in Chennai and Shardul in other games. Shami, despite a strong performance against Australia, has yet to feature in the World Cup," Prasad explained. Shami, with 171 wickets in 94 ODIs, is awaiting his opportunity.

"Shami will be considered if they decide to rest Siraj. The replacement strategy is well-defined at the moment: Suryakumar Yadav will step in for Shreyas if required, Ishan Kishan will replace Gill in the opening position, and Shardul Thakur will be included for flat pitches. In case of a turning track, Ashwin will take his place," explained the former Indian wicketkeeper.