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The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series is currently levelled 1-1 after Australia came back from behind to win the pink-ball Test by 10-wicket in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8. While India will eye to come out good, hoping to take a 2-1 lead in the Gabba Test, starting from December 14, they also have some concerns to address in their lineup.
The side is in desperate need of bowling enforcements and are waiting for Mohammed Shami to join the team down under. However, several reports have revealed that Shami might be ready to join the side for the final two Tests, but his fitness concerns have prevented the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fly him to Australia.
Shami to undergo fresh fitness tests prior to fly out to Australia: Reports
Although skipper Rohit Sharma affirmed that “door is open for Shami to join the team in Australia”, he did not clarify on the timeline. However, he revealed that the Indian pace spearhead is struggling with the issue of swollen knees. In the latest turn of events, a report in The Indian Express has claimed that Shami has undergone fresh fitness test which indicates that the pacer isn’t ready at the moment to fly out to Australia to play five-day Test cricket.
This report comes at a crucial juncture when India is in dire need of experienced bowling attack. On the other hand, Shami has been named in the Bengal side to feature in the quarterfinal of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where his fitness and knee issue will be put to another test.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, when asked about Shami joining Team India in Australia, Rohit Sharma had said, “Definitely that door is very much open but we’re just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he again got some swelling in his knee, which obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match. We want to be very, very careful, we don’t want to bring him here in a situation and play him and then he pulls up or something happens.”
“We want to be more than a hundred per cent sure with him, you know, because it’s been such a long time that he’s played. And to be fair to him, you know, we don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team,” Rohit Sharma added. “So there are some professionals who are monitoring, they are there with him and we will take the call based on you know what they say. They’re the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game after bowling for four and standing for 20 overs. So we just have to be very, very careful. But like I said, that door is very much open for him to come and play,” he continued.
