Cricket News

After Hardik Pandya, Gujarat Titans lose another senior player ahead of IPL 2024

Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 due to an ankle injury requiring surgery. This news comes as a significant blow to the Gujarat Titans, last year’s runners-up, who heavily relied on Shami’s fiery pace throughout their campaign.

Shami was instrumental in Gujarat’s run in the previous season, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 28 scalps. His ability to extract movement with the new ball, generate raw pace, and execute his wily variations at will made him a nightmare for opposition batsmen. He was exceptional even in 2022, the year in which the Titans won the championship on debut. As such, his absence creates a gaping hole in the Titans’ bowling unit, leaving a question mark over their ability to replicate their success.

Shubman Gill, the newly appointed skipper of the Titans will have his task cut out as he is now in charge of a team with a lot of success behind them but without two stalwarts. One is Shami and the other, is Hardik Pandya, who has gone back to his former franchise, Mumbai Indians. Gill will now hop for the other domestic quicks like Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Umesh Yadav and Kartik Tyagi to have a good season.

World Cup hopes jolted!

This injury couldn’t have come at a more inopportune moment for Shami. Following a hiatus since the 2023 World Cup, anticipation ran high for his return to the high-profile IPL. Unfortunately, those hopes are dashed. The IPL would have served as a crucial platform for him to showcase his form and potentially book his spot in India’s upcoming T20 World Cup squad. Having now been ruled out of the IPL, the setback adds a layer of complexity to his World Cup aspirations.

It remains to be seen if Shami can miraculously recover earlier than expected and play a part in Gujarat’s campaign. He will be desperate to do so as that will give him a chance to stake claim for a T20 World Cup berth.