In a major blow to India’s campaign in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia starting October 16, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was earlier ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. The selection committee has now named Mohammed Shami as his replacement.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mohammed Shami as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad. Shami has reached Australia and will link up with the squad in Brisbane ahead of the warm-up matches,” the BCCI informed in a statement. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur have been named as backups and will travel to Australia as well.

India will play their first World Cup match against Pakistan on October 23, 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mohammed Shami, who made his T20I debut against Pakistan in Mirpur in March 2014, has picked up 18 wickets in 17 matches at an average of over 31. However, he has not played any form of cricket in the last three months owing to a back injury as well as Covid-19.

India’s squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami.