Due to the presence of five left-handed batters in New Zealand’s lineup and Mohammed Shami’s recent calf issue, India may field left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in their upcoming Champions Trophy match. During a practice session, Arshdeep bowled extensively, while Shami’s limited performance indicated he might need rest. India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, confirmed Rohit Sharma is managing his injury well, and acknowledged the challenge of selecting the wicketkeeping duo amid Rishabh Pant’s absence. KL Rahul has performed admirably in key moments, though his batting position has limited his opportunities.
The presence of five left-handed batters in the New Zealand line-up, combined with Mohammed Shami’s slight calf issue during the Pakistan match, may compel the Indian team management to include left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in the Champions Trophy game on Sunday. If the practice session on Friday is any indication, the Punjab bowler is likely to take Shami’s place, who recently returned to the national team after a lengthy injury absence.
Arshdeep was observed training under the supervision of bowling coach Morne Morkel, completing 13 overs with a full run-up, while Shami managed only about 6-7 overs with a shortened run-up, indicating he was not bowling at full capacity.
In the match against Pakistan on February 23, Shami required treatment on his right leg from the physios shortly after completing his third over.
The players’ body language during Friday’s training suggested that India might opt to rest Shami ahead of the crucial semi-finals.
While KL Rahul, in his media interaction, seemed uncertain about whether India would change their successful combination due to the temptation, assistant coach Ryan Doeschate later indicated that slight modifications to the bowling line-up could be made.
Ahead of India’s vital ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match against New Zealand on Sunday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate provided an update on Rohit Sharma.
Speaking to reporters in Dubai, ten Doeschate confirmed that Rohit is managing his injury well.
“He’s doing fine. As you can see, he’s batting and he did some fielding earlier. It’s an injury he’s dealt with before, so he knows how to handle it effectively, and he’s managing it well,” he stated.
The discussion also turned to the wicketkeeping partnership of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. With Pant sidelined, ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenges of team selection at the highest level.
“It’s been really tough for Rishabh not to be playing, but that’s the reality of sport at this elite level. KL has performed well. He hasn’t had many opportunities, and batting at six or seven makes it challenging to get proper chances,” he explained.
Nevertheless, the former Netherlands international emphasized Rahul’s impact during critical moments.
“Clearly, in the third ODI in India, he played superbly, and his innings against Bangladesh turned out to be vital in the end,” he remarked.
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