Bengal pacer frontrunner to replace Ishant Sharma
Internet Desk: India got a huge boost ahead of the fourth and final test match of the series, as a fit again Md. Shami has joined the squad in Dharamsala. The pacer took to the social media posting a photo of the picturesque city, confirming he is indeed with the team.
Beautiful morning in dharamshala pic.twitter.com/sIlRXbbSlq
— Mohammed Shami (@MdShami11) March 22, 2017
Shami who was out of action with a knee injury has been out of action since the third test match against England last year, has been back in action. He was seen in action in the recently concluded Vizay Hazare Trophy final against Tamil Nadu at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He impressed everyone with his bowling picking 4/26 from 8.2 overs. He was also seen practicing with the team in Bangalore and Ranchi.
Indian captain Virat Kohli on being asked about Shami’s inclusion in the side recently, decided not to give a straight answer but left the question open ended.
“We sent him to play, wanted to give him match practice. I’ve not spoken to selectors but all kinds of possibility approaching the next Test,” Kohli said in Ranchi.
Although Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav has been impressive in the last three test matches, but Shami’s inclusion will no doubt add more fire in the armoury.
Umesh Yadav has taken 12 wickets in the last three test match, which included a match winning spell in Bangalore. Ishant has been unlucky in the series, picking only three wickets in Bangalore. The lanky pacer went wicket less in Pune. Shami seems to be the frontrunner to replace Ishant for the final test match in Dharamsala.
The 26-year-old Shami has so far played 22 Tests for India since making debut in 2013, picking up 76 wickets at 32.60. Before he was ruled out of the entire England series, the pacer had been quite effective with the ball with 10 scalps to his name.
The Border-Gavaskar series is currently tied at 1-1, with everything to play for in Dharamsala.