Shreevats Goswami calls emerging pacer Mukesh Kumar 'like for like' replacement for Mohammed Shami for Bangladesh Tests

Veteran domestic cricket sensation Shreevats Goswami reckons that emerging pacer Mukesh Kumar could be a ‘like for like’ replacement for senior India pacer Mohammed Shami who has been ruled out from the ongoing Bangladesh ODIs after sustaining a hand injury during a training session post the T20 World Cup 2022.

Mukesh displayed a terrific bowling performance on the first day of the second unofficial Test match between India A and Bangladesh A with a six-wicket haul. His outstanding bowling figures of 6/40 helped in bowling out Bangladesh A for just 252 runs.

Brilliant performance with the ball once again: Sreevats Goswami

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Goswami wrote, “Brilliant performance with the ball once again by @ksmukku4 picking 6fer . This should definitely make him top contender to replace @MdShami11 for the test match unless the selectors decides otherwise .been consistent for india A & a like for like replacement.”

Brilliant performance with the ball once again by @ksmukku4 picking 6fer . This should definitely make him top contender to replace @MdShami11 for the test match unless the selectors decides otherwise .been consistent for india A & a like for like replacement .

— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) December 6, 2022

Apart from his latest six-wicket haul, Mukesh Kumar had earlier registered a fifer against New Zealand A which also happened to be his debut series. Shreevats Goswami is aware of Mukesh’s game awareness since both represent the Bengal Ranji team.

Meanwhile, young speedster Umran Malik has been named as Shami’s replacement for the One Day Internationals. As of now, the extent of the senior pacer’s injury is unknown and if he is unable to recover in time, he will also end up missing the two Tests against Bangladesh later this month.

Earlier, speaking about Shami’s injury, a senior source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had mentioned that the 32-year-old did not travel with the Indian team to Bangladesh and instead was asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

India will lock horns with Bangladesh in the second ODI at Mirpur on Wednesday, December 7. This is a must-win game for the Men in Blue in order to keep the series alive.