Rohit Sharma is fit and will likely play in India’s final group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2 in Dubai. However, the team is expected to make a few changes. According to reports, Mohammed Shami will be rested, and Arshdeep Singh is set to replace him.

Shami showed discomfort during his first spell against Pakistan on February 23. Although he recovered after receiving treatment on his right leg, the team management does not want to take any risks before the semi-final on March 4. Therefore, they have decided to give him a break.

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Arshdeep Singh Set to Replace Shami

Since New Zealand has five left-handed batters, India wants to introduce a different angle in their bowling attack. As a result, Arshdeep’s ability to swing the ball into left-handers makes him the preferred choice.

During Friday’s practice, Arshdeep bowled 13 overs at full intensity under bowling coach Morne Morkel’s supervision. Meanwhile, Shami bowled only 6-7 overs with a shortened run-up. Notably, he was not bowling at full pace, which suggests that the team is managing his workload carefully.

Team Considers Bowling Changes

While KL Rahul remained uncertain about making changes to the winning combination, assistant coach Ryan Doeschate later hinted at possible adjustments in the bowling lineup.

“We’ve had two pretty tough training sessions, so that’s been the preparation,” Doeschate said. “In terms of the bench strength, I think the priority is making sure that we have our best guys available and fully fit for the second game [the semi-final on March 4].

“But we also don’t want to rest them for another two days [India have had a week off]. So to get that balance right, we might just try to share the bowling out a little bit. But we obviously want to win against New Zealand as well. It’s important that we keep that momentum going and obviously to top the group as well. So the balance of those two things I just mentioned [is] to be thought about.”

Group Leader Position at Stake

Although India and New Zealand have already secured their places in the semi-finals, this match remains crucial. The winner will finish as the group leader, which will determine their semi-final opponent.