World Cup: ‘Happy Headache’ For India Ahead Of Match With West Indies Today

Mohammed Shami’s hat-trick in his first match at the World Cup has left India with a pace bowling dilemma ahead of Thursday’s match against West Indies, but bowling coach Bharat Arun called it a “happy headache”, news agency Reuters reported from Manchester, England.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had shared the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah until the swing bowler suffered a hamstring injury in India’s comprehensive victory against Pakistan.

Drafted into the playing XI, Shami sealed India’s narrow victory against Afghanistan with the tournament’s first hat-trick in Southampton on Saturday.

A fit-again Kumar was back in the nets ahead of the clash against West Indies and Arun admitted the team would have to make a difficult choice at Old Trafford.

“Bhuvneshwar’s injury is not of any great concern. It is just a niggle, which we didn’t want to take a chance,” Arun told reporters on Wednesday. “And it was also an opportunity for us to plug Shami into the games. But the fact he’s done exceptionally well augurs well for us, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

“We’d take a call as per the conditions, but Bhuvi has done exceptionally well, so I think it’s a pretty good headache to have.”

Arun was also pleased with all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s evolution as a reliable fifth bowler who could be trusted to bowl his full quota, something not many were sure he could a couple of years back.

Bumrah, the top ranked ODI bowler, leads India’s formidable pace attack while the two-time champions have a potent slow bowling attack comprising the wrist-spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.