Siraj, Shami and Shardul to join Indian team in Australia for T20 World Cup
Fast bowlers Mohammad Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur will soon join the Indian team in Australia while Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup due to a back injury. Chahar was one of the standby players and was believed to be included in the main squad in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah but it has been learned that his back injury will take some time to heal.
An official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told PTI on condition of anonymity, “Deepak will take some time to get fit.His back pain has resurfaced. His ankle is fine and there is no problem with that. That’s why BCCI is sending three players, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur to Australia.”
He had gone to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for treatment. India has time till October 15 to select a new player in place of Jasprit Bumrah and hence the team management wants to assess the fitness of these three fast bowlers.Arriving in Australia at the right time will also help him adjust to the conditions there so that he is ready to play when the need arises.
Shami is the front runner for his place in the team due to his experience but Siraj had a stellar performance in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa in which he was adjudged the player of the series. Siraj took five wickets in three matches. He took three of these wickets in the second ODI in Ranchi. Shardul is a contender due to his all-round ability but he is likely to remain in the standby list. Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer are unlikely to travel to Australia for the time being.
