Bhuvneshwar Kumar Fit! Will Virat Kohli continue with Mohammed Shami?
Mohammed Shami’s brilliant hat-trick in his come back match against Afghanistan in the World Cup 2019 has left Indian management team in a big dilemma ahead of the clash against West Indies this afternoon but India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun terms it a happy headache.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar opened the bowling attack for team India, along with his partner Jasprit Bhumrah until the pacer suffered a hamstring injury playing against the arch foes Pakistan.
In his place, Mohammed Shami was inducted in the playing XI, Shami helped India seal a narrow victory against Afghanistan with the first hat-trick of the ongoing World Cup 2019 on Saturday at Southampton.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is fit again ahead of the match against the Windies, was back in training and Arun admitted the team have to make a tough choice at Old Trafford.
“Bhuvneshwar’s injury is not of any great concern. It is just a niggle, which we didn’t want to take a chance,” said Bharat Arun.
“And it was also an opportunity for us to plug Shami into the games. But the fact he’s done exceptionally well augurs well for us, it’s an embarrassment of riches.”
“We’d take a call as per the conditions, but Bhuvi has done exceptionally well, so I think it’s a pretty good headache to have.” Bharat added
Bharat Arun was also happy with Hardik Pandya’s growth as a reliable fifth bowler, something not many were sure he could become.
“It was a big challenge for him to bowl those 10 overs, and he realised that to be able to bowl those 10 overs ‘I need to develop a certain armoury in my bowling’.
“And that’s what he’s worked on. He’s worked on his slow balls, his slow bounces also, and he’s also worked on perfecting his bouncers.
“All these put together have given him the confidence to go through those 10 overs.”
Jasprit Bhumrah, number one ranked bowler in the ICC ranking leads team India’s pace attack, while on the other hand men in blue have a formidable spin bowling attack with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal who have proven to be quite a handful in the ongoing World Cup.
Although, team India doesn’t have a left arm pacer in their ranks, but Arun said the batsmen were ready to face the likes of Sheldon Cottreel on Thursday
“We have Khaleel (Ahmed) with us as our net bowler. And we also we have a throw-down specialist who is particularly a left-hander.”
“So I think we have enough practise of the left-arm bowling as of now.”
West Indies, who have won only one out of their six matches have a thin chance of making into the semi finals, and they will need their power hitting batting order to score against unbeaten India.
Arun also assetred that his bowlers were equipped for the likes of Chris Gayle and Carlos Brathwaite.
“It’s a big challenge for the bowlers — especially when they come after you,” Arun said.
“But whenever batsmen come after you, if you’re willing to look at it deeply, there is a chance in it for the bowlers, and I think that’s what the bowlers would be looking to do.”
