With Mohammed Shami out of the India-New Zealand Test series to be played this month, the Indian cricket team’s preparation for the five-Test series beginning in November against Australia has only gone a little tougher. Skipper Rohit Sharma said that the recovery process for Shami has hit a snag and so has hopes about his readiness for the international arena.
Shami’s Injury Update
Ahead of the Bengaluru Test, while addressing a press conference, Rohit said it is too tough to comment on whether Shami is fully fit for this series and the one in Australia. He has suffered a recent setback and swelling in his knee, which is unusual, given that he was nearing full fitness. Shami has been compelled to restart his recovery process at the National Cricket Academy, under the close watch of physiotherapists and doctors.
Rohit felt that Shami should be wholly fit before he could be considered for playing. “We want him to be 100% fit. Rushing him back would not be the right decision.”
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Building Team Depth
With Shami out for the New Zealand Tests, India looks at some “traveling reserves” – namely Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Reddy. Another who had been in the crossbars was Prasidh Krishna, who was also initially slated to join the squad but picked up an injury in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match.
Rohit explained the strategy behind retaining these players: “We want to build bench strength and have a pool of fast bowlers, rather than just relying on three or four options. The goal is to create a group of 8 or 9 fast bowlers who can step up when needed.”
On the need to groom new talent, Rohit said that most traveling reserves have previous injuries and it is essential to balance their workloads. “Test cricket is different from white-ball cricket. We want to see what these players can offer and make sure we are not over-reliant on a few people,” he mentioned.
Rohit’s Possible Absence
There is uncertainty regarding Rohit’s participation in part of the Australia series. Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed vice-captain for the New Zealand series and Rohit has spoken about his belief in Bumrah as a leader.
Bumrah is someone who has played a lot of cricket and understands the game well,” Rohit said. “He has not led much, but he’s been in all our leadership groups and has the skills to manage the side.”.
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