WTC Final 2023: India's strongest predicted XI

9. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami will spearhead India’s pace attack with his immense experience. At the Oval, his endeavours will be to get help from the track, using his pace. Along with other pacers, he will be expected to deliver early breakthroughs to the team.  In a career spanning nearly 10 years, he has emerged as the team’s mainstay pacer in the longest format of the sport.

The speedster has taken 225 wickets in 120 innings of 63 Tests, at an average of 27.48. These numbers ratify his authenticity to leading the bowling unit in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. In current times, he has been consistent with the ball. The veteran played three games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 and picked up nine wickets in six innings.

In England, the 32-year-old’s record is decent as he has bagged 38 wickets in 23 innings of 13 Tests, at an average of 40.52. However, his numbers are not impressive at the Kennington, Oval. So far, Shami has appeared in only one game at this venue, and in that too, he failed to be impactful. Against Joe Root-led England, he chipped in with only two wickets in a losing cause.