The Men in Blue dominated their recent fixtures in Colombo, beating Pakistan and Sri Lanka on successive days to be the first team to qualify for the 2023 Asia Cup final. Their bowlers were the stars of the show, keeping Pakistan to 128 and Sri Lanka to 172. The stage is now set for the final clash between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday, September 17.
For this Asia Cup, the coaching staff stuck with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as their primary fast bowlers. This caused quite a stir, as Mohammed Shami has spent years as one of India's most reliable pace options across different formats. Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach, explained that the move to exclude Shami was purely a tactical decision made for the good of the team.
Looking at the numbers, Shami's last game against Nepal saw him take a single wicket while giving up 29 runs. Coach Mhambrey acknowledged that it's incredibly tough to bench someone with Shami's pedigree, citing his phenomenal contributions and vast experience for India. He admitted that telling a player of that stature they aren't starting is never an easy conversation to have.
Mhambrey added that the team's internal communication has been clear, and the players trust the coaching staff's judgment, understanding that every selection is made to give the team the best chance of winning. Meanwhile, India is scheduled to play Bangladesh today, September 15, at the R. Premadasa Stadium to wrap up their Super 4 matches.