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Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is set to return to the Playing XI for the country in their all-important fourth Test match against Australia which will start on March 9 in Ahmedabad. He sat out the third match in Indore where India suffered a debilitating nine-wicket loss, but reports suggest that the veteran will return to the side for the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Shami was rested for workload management and the Team India management, in consultation with medical staff, have decided to space out the pace bowlers, who are also going to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well as the upcoming ODI series against Australia (barring Umesh Yadav).
The 32-year-old pacer played the first two matches and is also a part of the ODI squad for the Australia series. He was rested for the third game, with Umesh drafted into the side as the second pacer after Mohammed Siraj.
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Meanwhile, Siraj, who only bowled 24 overs in the first three games and is likely to feature in all three ODIs between March 17 to 22, will get time off for the final game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.
Shami has been the best pacer across both teams, with seven wickets. The dry pitches of Motera might also be conducive for the right-armer's reverse swing.
'GCA curators haven't received any directive from Team India'
After the Holkar Stadium in Indore received three demerit points from ICC match referee Chris Broad for their 'poor track', the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) will prepare a normal track, a source confirmed to PTI.
"We haven't received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track as we have always done through the season. In fact, last Ranji game over here in January, Railways scored 500 plus (508) batting first and Gujarat, although had innings defeat, scored 200 plus in both innings. It won't be too different this time," he said.
"Obviously, last few days, the BCCI's grounds and pitches committee instruct the local curator. But certainly, from our end, our endeavour is to produce a good Test match pitch," the official said.
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The last time two Test matches were held in Ahmedabad during the COVID-19 pandemic, the day/night match ended in just under two days. "You have to factor in that the Day/Night Test and the one after that were the first ones held after the stadium was refurbished and you had no clue how the pitch will pan out," he added.
India are currently leading the four-Test series 2-1 but needs to win the last game in order to nullify the result of Sri Lanka's away series against New Zealand and qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for a second straight season.
(With PTI Inputs)
