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Ravichandran Ashwin, India‘s seasoned spinner, has shared his thoughts on South Africa‘s selection dilemma for the T20 World Cup 2024 final against India at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday (June 29). He suggested that South Africa consider dropping Tabraiz Shamsi, their left-arm spinner, despite his recent standout performances.
Tabraiz Shamsi’s impactful performances in T20 World Cup 2024
Shamsi has been in remarkable form, playing a crucial role in South Africa’s journey to the final. His Player of the Match performance with figures of 3/27 against the West Indies in the Super 8 stage was instrumental in securing their semi-final berth. He continued his impressive run with a pivotal 3/6 in the semi-final against Afghanistan, showcasing his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations.
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Strategic concerns
However, Shamsi’s tournament hasn’t been without its challenges. He conceded 50 runs against the United States of America (USA), leading to his omission from the next match against England, where Ottneil Baartman took his place. Despite this setback, Shamsi was brought back for the crucial game against the West Indies, reflecting the team’s reliance on his wicket-taking capabilities.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s tactical analysis
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Ashwin highlighted that while Shamsi has a talent for breaking partnerships, he can be expensive at times. He pointed out that Indian batters could exploit this by employing aggressive tactics, such as the sweep shot.
Ashwin further suggested that South Africa might benefit from selecting pacer Baartman over Shamsi in the final to strengthen their bowling attack and reduce the risk of conceding too many runs.
“Shamsi is one bowler who will go for sweeps. And India has been sweeping. Adil Rashid, (Liam) Livingstone was slightly quicker through the area. They were able to get 39 runs along with Jordan and Sam Curran. I see this as a very important match-up. And hence, I believe South Africa should seriously consider playing (Ottniel) Baartman ahead of Shamsi for the final,” Ashwin said.
