Former England fast bowler Darren Gough has suggested India to rest Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand. While Shami bagged a five-wicket haul in the opening game against Bangladesh, he went wicketless in the eight overs he bowled against Pakistan.
After bowling his first spell against the arch-rivals, Shami also looked in some discomfort and left the field. However, he bounced back stronger and bowled at his normal speed.
Shami is returning after a 14-month hiatus as he also underwent the knife and thus it is crucial for the team’s think tank to manage his workload.
“They probably should rest him. They’ve got the confidence against Pakistan. When you’ve got a batting lineup like that, you can afford to bring someone else in; bring another spinner in Dubai,” Gough was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
The former English bowler feels India could bring in a spinner for Shami in the match against the Kiwis.
“The pitch is not as flat as in Lahore, so you can bring another spinner. We saw Hardik Pandya bowling brilliantly, so I would expect India to rest him,” Gough added.
Gough highlighted that India looks strong along with South Africa and New Zealand in the ongoing eight-team tournament. The former pacer said the Kiwis are looking potent despite the absence of three fast bowlers – Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson.
“India look very strong, I’m not going to lie. They looked very strong in the ODIs against England and started off with two terrific performances (in Champions Trophy). South Africa and New Zealand look pretty strong and solid. (New Zealand) are without Boult and Southee, and Lockie Ferguson as well, so when you got those three out, I thought we couldn’t be too sure about New Zealand, but they have started pretty well,” he reckoned (as per the aforementioned source).
Gough tipped India as the favorites to go all the way in the Champions Trophy despite the absence of gun pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
“If I were to say who is going to win it, I will say India. They look pretty solid. If you look at their batting, you don’t see a weakness. Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the world, is not playing for India. And they still look too strong for everybody else,” he said.
India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.
