Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has expressed that Team India is missing senior pacer Mohammed Shami in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion. According to Karthik, Shami's effectiveness with the ball on the seam-friendly Centurion surface could have been beneficial for India.
Dean Elgar's outstanding century as South African batter dominated on Day 2. India managed to secure five wickets, including two each by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, while debutant Prasidh Krishna took one.
In the current Boxing Day Test against South Africa, Karthik asserts that India feel the absence of Shami. Despite commendable performances from Bumrah and Siraj, Karthik believes that Shami's abilities would have been valuable on the seam-friendly Centurion surface.
"The man has grown in stature as a bowler and as a leader of the pack. He is an able lieutenant to Jasprit Bumrah. You can imagine with the upright seam on this kind of pitch. I promise you, he would have definitely gotten a few wickets. The Indian team really misses him," Karthik said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
Shami has been ruled out due to an ankle injury suffered during the ODI World Cup 2023. Despite being the leading wicket-taker among current Indian bowlers in South Africa with 35 wickets in eight matches.
"Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna going for close to 118 runs in their 27 overs. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj going for just 111 in their 31 overs. Siraj was a tad bit expensive, especially in the last spell, they also bowled some brilliant balls. You could see every time they were on, you got the feeling that they could get you a wicket or two. Whereas with Shardul or Prasidh, you had to wait for a batter to make a mistake," Karthik added.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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