Mohammed ShamiA promising seamer from Bengal, Shami Ahmed had played only 15 first-class and 15 List A games when he was drafted into India's ODI team to play Pakistan in Delhi in January 2013. He showed that the faith wasn't misplaced, as he bowled tight lines in a low-scoring match to return figures of 9-4-23-1, thus becoming only the eighth bowler, and the first Indian, to bowl four or more maiden overs on his ODI debut.
He played in three tests against England but was dropped in 4th test because of his poor and inconsistent bowling.
Choosing the second pacer after Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be the biggest dilemma for Dhoni. Mohit Sharma who had good bowling form in last IPL and Bangladesh tour is also the next bowling option. Apart from him, Dhawal Kulkarni, the third uncapped player who had a wonderful tour of Australia with India A is the third option for the second pace bowler.
In the quadrangular A-team one day series in Australia, Kulkarni was the leading wicket taker with 14 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 4.61.
But Shami who also hit an useful unbeaten half century in the first test against England at Trent Bridge and built a solid 110 runs partnership for 10th wicket with Bhuvneshar Kumar might give him an advantage above Mohit and Dhawal Kulkarni.
He has 50 wickets in 29 ODIs at an economy of 5.82 with the best figures of 4/50.
