The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has seen India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah shouldering most of the bowling workload, leaving former Indian coach Ravi Shastri emphasizing the need for Mohammed Shami’s return to ease the pressure on Bumrah and balance India ’ss attack. Shami, a key pacer for India, has been on a recovery journey after a year-long break due to an ankle injury.
The 34-year-old has been in solid form in the domestic circuit, picking up eight wickets in seven matches for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), with his spells being economical.
During commentary on Day 2 of the ongoing pink-ball Test in Adelaide, Ravi Shastri highlighted Shami’s importance, saying, “The quicker Mohammed Shami reaches here, the better for India. He is playing a lot of domestic matches.”
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Despite Mohammed Shami’s encouraging performances, the pacer has yet to receive fitness clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The National Cricket Academy (NCA) is closely monitoring his fitness to determine if he can handle the rigors of Test cricket, with Shami expected to remain with Bengal for the SMAT knockouts.
Ravi Shastri reflected on Shami’s previous impact in Australia, where he has taken 31 wickets in eight Tests, and stressed that his return should not be rushed. While acknowledging the pressure Bumrah has been under, he suggested that Melbourne or Sydney would be more realistic options for Shami’s return rather than Brisbane.
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“You can see the pressure on the opposition when Bumrah is bowling and others are bowling. There is a lot of pressure on Bumrah,” Ravi Shastri said, adding that Brisbane might be too early for Shami.
Although Shami’s absence is keenly felt, sources within the BCCI are cautious about his immediate inclusion. With the NCA yet to give a final fitness clearance, it’s possible that Shami might miss the entire series.