Sanjay Manjrekar says “India clearly has better bowlers than Shami in T20 cricket” in T20 World Cup 2021. He wants India to re-assess their T20 system. And then weed out players who might be better suited to other formats. He highlighted the example of Mohammed Shami. He says that while the pacer is an asset in Test cricket, there are “clearly better players” than him in the shortest format. Sanjay’s comments came in a video preview of today’s India vs Scotland. Shami has played three games in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Also, he struggled in the first two matches but picked up three wickets. At an average rate of 9.74 against Afghanistan.
“I think the time has come now for India to look at their T20 team and look at certain players and maybe assess whether these guys are better suited to playing some other format. Maybe there are some players in this T20 team who will add greater value or the best value that they can possibly add in one format and not be as good in the others. I am thinking about Mohammed Shami. I think we have seen enough of Mohammed Shami to know that his greatest quality and where he’s a superb asset for the team is Test match cricket. The last time I looked, his economy in T20 cricket was 9. I know he bowled well against Afghanistan but India clearly has bowlers who are slightly better than Mohammed Shami in T20 cricket,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Sanjay Manjrekar
Thus, Manjrekar added that selectors should disregard a player’s reputation in Tests and ODIs. While picking a T20 team, adding that India is making the same “mistake” with Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Lastly, one must learn, as selectors especially, to disregard the reputation a man has earned in another format while assessing his place in a side for one format. India makes that mistake with Ravichandran Ashwin and to an extent Mohammed Shami,” Manjrekar said.
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