Gujarat Titans (GT) have announced a like-for-like replacement for their talismanic strike bowler Mohammed Shami who will be not participating in the 2024 season due to an injury. Hailing from the southern state of Kerala, fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been named Shami’s replacement and will join the franchise at his base price of Rs 50 lakh ($60,000).

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Warrier, who currently represents Tamil Nadu on the domestic circuit, has previous experience of playing in the big leagues, having plied his trade for Kolkata Knight Riders between 2019 and 2021 where he featured in five matches. He was with Mumbai Indians in the 2023 season but did not get any game time. 

Warrier will link up with the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Josh Little, Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Darshan Nalkande and Kartik Tyagi to form the pace battery of GT. 

Shami was the highest wicket-taker last year, ending the season with 28 scalps at an average of 18.64 and a best of 4 for 11 for the then-Hardik Pandya-led side. His performance was instrumental in the one-time winners ending as the runners-up. 

Shami’s injury remains a big body blow for Shubman Gill-led GT but the management would hope that Warrier can come good and replicate if not all, but some of Shami’s magic on the field. 

Gujarat Titans open their 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where a familiar face in Hardik Pandya will greet them, but as an opponent this time.  

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Shami’s successful surgery

The veteran Indian pacer recently successfully underwent surgery for his right heel problem and is currently rehabilitating.

The pacer took to his social media handles, earlier this month, to inform about the surgery and showed optimism about returning to the cricket field soon. 

“Just had a successful heel operation on my Achilles tendon! Recovery is going to take some time, but looking forward to getting back on my feet,” Shami wrote.

Shami has not played any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup in November last year. He missed the initial WC games for the country but still emerged as the leading wicket-taker, finishing the tournament with 24 wickets. 

Gujarat Titans squad: Abhinav Manohar, Azmatullah Omarzai, B Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Matthew Wade, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill (C), Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha

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