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Top Picks: Potential Replacements for Mohammed Shami in GT Squad for IPL 2024
Top Picks: Potential Replacements for Mohammed Shami in GT Squad for IPL 2024
Mohammed Shami, the star fast bowler for the Gujarat Titans (GT), has been ruled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League season (IPL 2024), which is a significant blow to the team. Following the NCA’s recommendation, Mohammad Shami underwent surgery in the UK. His Achilles tendon was the focus of the surgery because it had been bothering him since the World Cup. Shami expects to return to cricketing soon, although he acknowledged that the mending process will take some time.
With 28 wickets in 17 matches last year at an average of 18.61, Shami won the purple cap and will be missed in the IPL in 2024. This implies that in the forthcoming IPL 2024, the Gujarat Titans, the IPL 2022 champions and IPL 2023 finalists, will need to select a pacer’s replacement.
The following players could start in Mohammed Shami’s stead for the GT in the IPL 2024 squad:
1. Varun Aaron
Varun Aaron just declared his retirement from domestic red-ball cricket. Aaron will yet play white-ball cricket even after becoming the fastest bowler in Indian cricket history. Aaron took 29 wickets in 18 games while playing for India. Along with playing 52 IPL games, he has a high of 3/16 and has claimed 44 wickets. When GT emerged victorious in the IPL 2022, he had participated in two games for the Gujarat Titans. He did not, however, sell in the IPL 2023 or 2024 auctions. Varun Aaron is still able to move the ball rapidly and hasn’t lost a step. The skilled bowler has expanded his toolkit with a few new strokes, one of which is an effective slower ball. His experience with him and his speed should help GT make up for Shami’s lack of speed in the IPL in 2024.
2. Ishan Porel
Ishan Porel’s career has been hampered by injuries even though Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Mavi, and Arshdeep Singh, to mention a few, have gone on to play for India.He has only played one IPL match for Punjab Kings in 2021, picking up one wicket for 39 runs. Since then, the pacer has struggled with form and injury, and he was not even sold at the IPL 2024 auction. Shami’s exclusion, however, might present an opportunity for Porel to play in a subsequent season.Over his career, Porel has participated in 29 T20 matches and claimed 40 wickets. Because of his outstanding economy of 7.17, the Gujarat Titans may think about using him in place of Shami.
Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar’s Insights on Whether Virat Kohli Will Skip IPL 2024 Or Not
3. Kamlesh Nagarkoti
Ishan Porel’s partner from India at the 2018 U19 World Cup, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, amazed everyone with his bowling speed of above 140 kph. He quickly signed an IPL deal with the Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for whom he has played 12 games. But his love of speed has caused him to suffer from several stress fractures in his back. Nagarkoti has now recovered without incident, although it was unexpected that he wasn’t snapped up in the IPL 2024 auction. He has taken 19 wickets in 25 T20 matches thus far. Even if the young player’s performance in the shorter format is not very noteworthy, he is incredibly talented and, should he sign as a replacement.
