In order to bolster support for India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in Australia, former India coach Ravi Shastri wants the fit-again veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami to quickly join the Indian team for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Shastri’s comments came after Shami marked a successful return to competitive cricket following a year-long absence because of an ankle surgery and subsequent rehabilitation.
Appearing for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy clash against Madhya Pradesh, right-arm pacer Shami bowled 19 overs and registered figures of 4 for 54 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
“If anything, I would have wanted a little more support for Jasprit in the pace-bowling attack. So the quicker Mohammed Shami gets fit and is on a flight, I think it’s better for India,” said Shastri on the ICC Review show.
The BGT will be contested over a series of five Tests, beginning with the first match in Perth from November 22. If Shami faces no more fitness issues, he could be available in the later stages of the series Down Under.
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The second Test will be a pink-ball match, scheduled to be played in Adelaide from December 6. The last three Tests will be played in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
Having slipped to No. 2 in the World Test Championship (WTC) table after a 0-3 whitewash in the Test series at home against New Zealand, India need to win four of the five Tests in Australia to outrightly qualify for their third consecutive WTC final.
