It is bad news for the India Cricket Team. Rohit Sharma and Co will be without two of their ace speedsters. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are likely to be unavailable for the upcoming IND vs BAN Test series. In their absence, it will be on Mohammed Siraj to spearhead India’s pace attack.
Last week, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah revealed that Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested for the two-match Test series. Since the Border-Gavaskar Test series is of prime importance, thus Bumrah is likely to be rested to remain injury-free.
For Mohammed Shami, the dynamics are different. Initially, it was revealed that Shami could be ready in time for the IND vs BAN Test series. But the BCCI aren’t too keen to rush the speedster. While Shami recovers from his ankle injury, he is likely to be available for the Ranji Trophy before the IND vs NZ Test series.
Who will be India’s pacers?
With the two seniors missing out, Mohammed Siraj is the lone senior remaining in the roster as far as the pace department is concerned. Siraj has the experience to lead the charge, but is he the best fit for the leadership role? The answer to this would be no. But then again, India doesn’t have much options with them.
Arshdeep Singh would get a callup. The left arm pacer has been a vital cog for India in the white-ball format. It remains to be seen if he can replicate his form in red-ball cricket. The other option that India has is Khaleel Ahmed. But this raises a major concern with both Arshdeep and Khaleel being left arm pacers.
It is not white ball cricket that Hardik Pandya would be available to bowl as the third pacer in the team. But there is nothing to worry that much for the Indian think tank. It can be expected that since the matches are held in India, it pitch conditions are likely to be on the slower side.
India has a plethora of option in the spin department. At least 4 spinners will be in contention of fighting for their spot in the playing XI. This means, if India plays 3 spinners, then Rohit Sharma can go with only 2 pacers in their ranks.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are veterans in the spin department. Not only are they good with the ball, they are equally good with the bat. This makes them prized asset for the team in the all-rounders department.
Axar Patel is another spin option. He too is very handy with the bat and can tonk big shots with relative easy. As for the specialist spinner option- India has the ever dependable Kuldeep Yadav in their ranks. Despite a lack of dept in the pace attack, India can easily compensate that with their spin depth especially given that the two Test matches would be held in the home soil.
