3 Reasons Why Gautam Gambhir Might Drop Mohammed Shami For 4th T20I Vs England

Anurag Dasgupta

Why Shami should be dropped [Source: AP Photos] Why Shami should be dropped [Source: AP Photos]

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After stellar victories in the first two T20I matches, India were expected to seal the series with another dominant victory, however, that didn't happen as the Jos Buttler led England side roared back and won the Rajkot T20I to keep the series well and truly alive. The Indian side were the happy of the two sides heading into the dressing room at the halfway mark, but disaster stuck soon.

The England bowlers tightened the grip on the scoring rate as India lost wickets at regular intervals and surrendered in front of the English bowlers. For India, none of the batters stood tall as a target of 172 was made to look too big.

As a result, India lost the match and allowed England to make a comeback. Speaking of comeback, Mohammed Shami also made his India return after 14 months and looked rusty to say the least. He wasn't at his best as the England batters played him with ease. With the series still on the line, coach Gautam Gambhir could take a call and drop Shami for the next match and here's why.

3) Shami still isn't match fit

The pacer was out with an injury for the last 14 months and it was obvious that Shami won't be a 100% heading into the 3rd T20I. However, he played the game and looked rusty in the match as the cutting edge was missing from his bowling.

Had India won the series in the 3rd T20I, Shami would have gotten another game to prove his match fitness. But England won the contest and coach Gautam Gambhir cannot allow the series to slip up, hence, he could drop Shami in place of a wicket-taking bowler.

2) Gambhir to bring back trump card Arshdeep?

India lead the series, 2-1, but they cannot afford another slip up. Arshdeep Singh, India's best T20I pacer was rested for the 3rd game in Rajkot, but it backfired as India lost the contest and looked less threatening in the slog overs.

If India are to win the next game, they need their best bowler back and hence, Arshdeep should come in and replace Shami for the Pune T20I. His ability to take wickets at regular intervals will be quite useful in the next game.

1) Why waste Shami in T20Is?

The ongoing T20I series doesn't hold any context in the current scheme of things. The focus of Team India is solely on the Champions Trophy and prior to it, India will play 3 ODIs against the England side.

If India are to get Shami match fit before the Champions Trophy, then they should let him play all the three games in that series. Playing him in T20Is doesn't make any sense, especially for someone who doesn't fit in the scheme of things.