India’s pace-bowling unit is under scrutiny after a lackluster performance in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Australia cruised to a dominant 10-wicket victory to level the series 1-1. Jasprit Bumrah, despite his best efforts, found little support from fellow pacers Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana, exposing the team’s fragility in the bowling department. The situation has now reignited calls for the experienced Mohammed Shami to make an immediate return to the squad. However, questions about Shami’s fitness and a reported rift with skipper Rohit Sharma have added fuel to the controversy.
Shami, who has been recovering from an injury, has not featured in India’s Test squad since the New Zealand series earlier this year. While the pacer recently declared himself fully fit, his claims seem to conflict with statements from Rohit Sharma. This discrepancy has led to speculation about a strained relationship between the two stalwarts of Indian cricket.
Reports from Dainik Jagran suggest that Shami and Rohit had a “heated exchange” over the issue during the first Test in Bengaluru. According to the report, the altercation stemmed from Rohit’s public remarks doubting Shami’s readiness, despite the latter asserting his recovery.
“When Shami was at the NCA, he met Rohit during the first Test. During their meeting, the two had a heated exchange over the captain’s remarks on Shami’s fitness when asked about his availability for the New Zealand and Australia Test series,” a source told.
Following India’s defeat in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, Rohit addressed the media but remained cautious about Shami’s immediate return. “We want to be more than 100% sure with him because it has been a long time. We don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team,” Rohit said.
He added that the team management is monitoring Shami closely through professionals, who are assessing his performance in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. “The door is open for him to come and play anytime, but we need to ensure he is truly ready.”
India’s bowling struggles are evident, as the team managed to pick up just 10 wickets in the match against Australia. Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj failed to provide the necessary support to Bumrah, leaving the management to reconsider the composition of the bowling attack for the crucial remaining matches.
For now, it remains unclear whether Shami will rejoin the team in time for the third Test. His inclusion could bolster India’s chances of reclaiming dominance in the series, but the lingering tension between him and Rohit Sharma could potentially disrupt team harmony.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heats up, India faces not only the challenge of tackling a formidable Australian side but also addressing internal issues that threaten to derail their campaign. Whether Shami returns to the squad or not, the focus must shift towards delivering a cohesive performance to maintain their reputation as a cricketing powerhouse. For now, fans can only hope for a resolution between Shami and Rohit that prioritizes the team’s success over personal differences.
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