Navdeep Saini vs Mohammed Shami - who should India play in T20Is?

[Sin Nombre]

Shami is arguably amongst the best 5 quicks in the world currently between tests and ODIs combined but somehow isn't effective in T20s.

Saini has a more limited resume but has shown a lot more control and effectiveness in this format. And has pace and carry which is extremely important in Australian conditions.

Whom should India play as Bumrah's partner?

Should they play both and have 3 quicks none of whom can bat?

Or have 2 of them with a Shardul who can hit?

 

[Titan24]

Isnt Bhuvneshwar considered the first choice alongside Bumrah in LOIs?

Shami is a wicket taker but I guess on occasions he lacks variety in the T20 format. Saini should be in the mix and Shami should also be given oppurtunities leading upto T20 WC.

Hardik will most likely be the 3rd seamer unless India tries to go with 6 bowling options or 4 seamers which has low probability.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bhuvi, Shami, Saini, Chahar all in consideration. It comes down to fitness. Let us not forget Pandya will be back. So India will have just 2 slots left.

 

[tyron_woodley]

what about in red ball cricket? saini deserves a go. He is a good red ball player too. siraj as well.

But it's just so hard to break into the team when everyone is playing so well.

 

[Hyperion66]

Both are a must in Australia.

Rohit
Rahul
Kohli
Iyer
Pant
Pandya
Jadeja/Dubey
Sundar/Kuldeep
Saini
Shami
Bumrah

 

[Sin Nombre]

Both are a must in Australia.

Rohit
Rahul
Kohli
Iyer
Pant
Pandya
Jadeja/Dubey
Sundar/Kuldeep
Saini
Shami
Bumrah

Need a better A/R than Jadeja/Dubey as the #7 for this to work. And the spinner at 8 to be able to tonk it once in a while like Shardul.

 

[HEYY]

Shami should get a chance if Saini fails multiple times, he is really good when it comes to WCs.

 

[Hyperion66]

Need a better A/R than Jadeja/Dubey as the #7 for this to work. And the spinner at 8 to be able to tonk it once in a while like Shardul.

Do we have better options? Since Pandya already there I guess we could put someone like Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav as specialist lower order bat, not sure about their current form though as I don't follow domestics much.

Sundar is a decent lower order bat and can smack a few without trying to hack every ball in half like Shardul. I really can't think of anyone else. Krunal Pandya is crap despite what his IPL stat tells you and not sure about Krishnappa Gowtham, he needs to play enough internationals before we take him to Aus.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Team 11

Rohit
KL
Kohli
Shreyas
Pant
Hardik
Sundar/Jadeja
Kuldeep/Chahal
Saini
Bumrah
Shami

Chahar as Reserve.

Bhuvi is months away from fitness. And Thakur isnt international class.

 

[Sidilicious]

Team 11

Rohit
KL
Kohli
Shreyas
Pant
Hardik
Sundar/Jadeja
Kuldeep/Chahal
Saini
Bumrah
Shami

Chahar as Reserve.

Bhuvi is months away from fitness. And Thakur isnt international class.

It’s a shame that Sundar isn’t developing into a proper lower order bat at international level. At least, he hasn’t been given enough chances. He either comes in when he has to throw the bat at everything or he doesn’t get to bat at all. He needs to be tested in a situation where he has 5-6 overs to bat or has to chase a bit of a target.

 

[Hasan123]

You can play both.

 

[Srtfan]

Shami is trash in t20

 

[JattMaula]

I would play saini only if he can show improvement in his death bowling. Last t20 was good but he needs to show consistently that he has evolved.

While shami too leaks runs at the death, he is quite experienced at bowling with new ball. Plus he has been to Australia multiple times and has tasted success there.