Mohammad Kaif is backing a 30-year-old player to play for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The former player commented after Sandeep Sharma, the forgotten bo0wler of Indian cricket, took five wickets against Mumbai Indians. He has been the most underrated bowler in the history of the IPL and Indian cricket. Sandeep has played just two T20Is for the Men in Blue despite being one of the best bowlers in the T20 format.
He was out of Rajasthan Roayls’ playing XI due to an injury and dismissed five MI batters on his return in IPL 2024. He played a part in the collapse of Mumbai’s top order and took crucial wickets in the middle and death overs. The veteran conceded just 18 runs from his four overs, and the high-flying batting unit of the rivals couldn’t hit him for runs. This is not the first time Sandeep has done it.
He has been coming up with such performances for all the franchises he has played for, but the selectors haven’t given him a chance. He has put forward his name with the ICC T20 World Cup to be played just after the 17th season of the cash-rich league. The pitches will be slow in the West Indies and the USA, and a bowler like Sndeep would come handful. Considering his sensational bowling against the five-time champions, Kaif wants the Ajiat-Agarkar-led selection committee to consider him for the global tournament.
“Sandeep Sharma is easily the most underrated IPL player. Goes about his job silently, is very brainy and a wicket-taker. 193 T20 wickets at 7.5 Economy. Not a bad idea to consider him for World T20, I think,’ Kaif wrote on x.
However, his chances are minimal as the decision-makers are likely to go with Jasprit Bumrah, Arsheep SIngh, and Avesh Khan as the specialist fast bowlers.