Dinesh Karthik discusses India's cricket strategy and Mohammed Shami's future

Former Indian wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has shared insights regarding the strategic direction of the Indian national cricket team. Ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies starting October 6 in Lucknow, Karthik suggested that the top-order combination seen during the 2026 Asian Games is unlikely to remain the same. He noted that playing in India will require a greater emphasis on pace bowling, likely necessitating two or three pacers compared to the single seamer used in Japan.

Karthik also addressed the future of senior pacer Mohammed Shami. Despite Shami's strong domestic performances for Bengal following injury struggles, Karthik believes the team has moved beyond him and advised against selecting him for the 2027 ODI World Cup. This comes as India's pace attack, including players like Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, faces scrutiny following recent struggles in ODI series against West Indies.

Additionally, the squad for the West Indies T20I series features Shreyas Iyer as captain. The series will see the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is being rested to manage his workload ahead of the New Zealand tour.