An Oddsworth Opinion
India’s ODI recall debate is turning to experience
The story
Hanuma Vihari has called for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to return after West Indies scored heavily in the final two ODIs. Shami has the stronger wicket-taking case, although his recent economy complicates the idea that a recall would quickly bring the scoring under control.
CricTracker · 5 October at 10:56 BSTHanuma Vihari urges India to recall Bhuvneshwar and Shami after bowling collapse vs West IndiesRead the full storyHanuma Vihari has urged India to recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami after West Indies scored more than 750 runs across the final two ODIs. Shami’s recent economy of 5.93 runs an over, against 5.27 for bowlers in men’s ODIs over the last two years, complicates that remedy.
India chased West Indies’ 405/7 in the second ODI, then made 351/7 and lost the third when West Indies reached 352/5. Batting rescued one result; the next innings showed how much the bowlers needed it to do so again.
A problem for the stronger side
India’s standing makes those totals harder to shrug off. Our ratings give India a 72% chance of beating an average side in men’s ODIs, against 41% for West Indies. India had enough batting to win the second match, yet could not defend their total in the third.
Vihari’s candidates offer different ways to address that failure. Kumar’s career case rests on economy; Shami’s rests on wickets. West Indies scored heavily while keeping wickets in hand, which gives the wicket-taking argument particular force.
Shami’s trade-off
Shami still takes wickets. His career bowling average is 24.33 runs per wicket in ODIs, against Kumar’s 34.94. His recent seven ODIs brought 11 wickets at a bowling average of 30.64, close to the 31.34 average for bowlers in men’s ODIs over the last two years.
His spells against Bangladesh and Australia give that career case more recent substance. He remains a credible choice when India needs wickets, although his recent economy shows the runs his overs can cost. That is a trade-off India can weigh against how far the West Indies innings went.
Kumar’s older claim
Kumar offers the clearer career case for conceding fewer runs per over. His ODI economy is 5.1 runs an over, against Shami’s 5.59. Against South Africa in January 2022, however, he returned 0/64 from ten overs and 0/67 from eight. Those performances give India little reassurance about his control.
There is a place for a bowler who can slow the scoring, but Kumar’s career economy carries too much of his case. India should recall Shami first and give Kumar’s older figures less weight than those South Africa spells.