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After young Harshit Rana remained wicketless in the pink-ball Test, many have said that Jasprit Bumrah lacked support from fellow pacers in Adelaide. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that other bowlers need to step up as well. However, he backed Rana who bowled well on his Test debut in Perth. In the post-match press conference, Rohit was asked whether Mohammed Shami will board the flight to Australia and be available for the remainder of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. While the skipper said that he wants Shami to be fully fit when he returns to Test cricket, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali feels it is high time that the experienced pacer boards the flight to Australia for the Gabba Test.
“We are getting news that Shami will be going but might play from the fourth Test. There won’t be any benefit if India plays Shami from the fourth Test. Send him now and play him the Brisbane Test. If you are calling him for Melbourne, then don’t call him at all. India need Shami now! Your pace attack needs Shami,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
In the post-match press conference, Rohit revealed that Shami has had some swelling in his knee and he wants him to regain full fitness before returning to the fold.
“The door is very much open (for Mohammed Shami). But we are just monitoring him, because while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he got some swelling in his knee. It obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match here. We want to be very, very careful. We don’t want to be in that situation where we bring him for a game and then he pulls up sore..we want to be more than 100% sure with him,” said the 37-year-old.
Shami's recent form
Shami has not played international cricket since ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final due to ankle injury. After the surgery, he returned to first-class cricket with Ranji Trophy 2024-25. He is currently playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024. The 34-year-old has taken eight wickets from seven appearance in the domestic T20 tournament. In the first-class appearance, he took seven wickets in Bengal's win over Madhya Pradesh.
India's WTC final chances
The remaining three Tests are crucial for India's chances of qualifying for World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. India need three consecutive to ensure their berth in WTC final otherwise they will have to depend on result of other games. The next Test in Brisbane starts on December 14.
