'Bit angry, chose to not express', Shami's reaction on not being selected in initial T20 World Cup squad

While Mohd Shami was not a part of the original 15-member squad that was selected for the T20 World Cup, he has emerged as a crucial cog in India's bid to win the ongoing tournament Down Under.

According to Shami's coach Mohd Badruddin, the pacer was furious after not being named as a part of the first 15. 'He chose to not express himself and instead he went on playing and toiling at the NCA or at his farm', Badruddin told The Indian Express in an interview.

After delivering an average performance in the T20 World Cup last year, Shami had an exceptional IPL 2022 with the Gujarat Titans. However, despite finishing IPL 2022 as the highest wicket taker for his team with 20 scalps, the speedster wasn't a part of the Asia Cup squad. After India's below par show with the ball in that tournament, Shami was expected to be picked for the T20 World Cup but he was named as a reserve player for the event but was included in the squad after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out.

Badruddin while heaping praise on the 32-year-old said, 'He was very hopeful he will be selected as T20 world cup was in Australia. Those pitches suit his bowling. He was upset when the selection didn’t happen but never showed it. He went on playing or being at NCA, or here at his farm, toiling away on the pitch. I would tell him that it’s my gut feeling that he would play the world cup; he would blush and stay silent. See now he is playing!' added the coach.

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