Shami has to be fit, otherwise he will have to make way for somebody else: Dhoni

INDIAN SKIPPER Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels it will be difficult for seamer Mohammad Shami to replace Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI, even if the former is declared fit in time for the World T20 to be held in India beginning next week. 

Shami has been plagued with injuries for a long time now, owing to which he has struggled to play competitive cricket on a regular basis. Although the 25-year-old seamer is picked in the Indian team for the mega T20 event, there is no certainty that he will get the nod easily. 

As reported by PTI, Dhoni said,

"We still don't know whether Shami will be fit or not. He still has a bit of time and he was picked because of his potential. He is someone who can bowl with new and old ball with yorkers being his strength. But it will be difficult to replace Bumrah as he has contributed very well with the new ball."

"Shami can only come in Ashish's slot but he would be very tough to replace. The reason being he's done very well for us, he's moved the ball around," Dhoni added.

It's surprising to see such a change in the bowling attack as just a few months back, Shami was leading the pace attack when India toured Australia for a full Test series in 2014-15. He sustained an injury during that tour and played right through the 2015 World Cup with it, forcing him to be out of action since then.

Dhoni also feels Shami has a bit of time on his hands to prove his fitness in the two warm-up games before the World T20.

"Shami has a bit of time. He will have to prove his fitness in the warm-up games. If he does, he will stay ahead with the team. If he's unfit or he's not able to deliver the way he has to then he will have to make way for somebody else.”

Shami has the ability to swing and seam the bowl and at the same time can also be effective at the death overs. Shami has also taken 87 and five wickets in ODIs and T20Is respectively.