Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami in BGT 2024-25 (Source:AP Photos)
India and Australia are up against each other in the five-match Test series and as BGT has been over the years, the ongoing series is also turning out to be a blockbuster. India were without their star players Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the first Test, but the visitors still managed to find a way and came up with a victory for ages in Perth.
However, in the second Test, India faltered big time under Rohit Sharma's leadership and lost the pink-ball Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets. India's batting was below-par in both the innings, but their bowlers too could not live upto their billing and it was quite evident that India missed Mohammed Shami in the second Test. So, with series levelled, and three important Tests coming up, here is the reason why Indian skipper Rohit Sharma need Mohammed Shami for the remaining of the Tests in this series.
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Mohammed Shami's Experience In Australian Conditions
Mohammed Shami is an experienced cricketer who has performed all over the globe, and has been one of the pillars of India's bowling attack in red-ball cricket for almost a decade. In the second Test, it was quite evident that India is lacking an experienced pacer who can support Jasprit Bumrah. Harshit Rana went wicketless in the second Test and when the likes of Travis Head attacked him, he ended up bowling too many loose balls which did not help India's cause.
Mohammed Siraj too could not make an impact with the new ball and when India needed a breakthrough early in the innings, he could not find a way. So, having an experienced head like Mohammed Shami could have helped captain Rohit Sharma in getting more control of the proceedings and it could have resulted in more quick wickets for India in the Adelaide Test.
Mohammed Shami's Test Record In Australia
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-Rate | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 31 | 32.16 | 54.2 | 2 |
Also, Shami has played 12 Tests against Australia, out of which eight Tests have been Down Under and he has picked 31 wickets in it. He has two five-wicket hauls to his name as well, so he knows which lengths and lines to bowl in Australia, and how to set up a particular Australian batter which would be critical in the upcoming Test matches.
The experience would also help him come up with better plans than the how the likes of Harshit Rana and Siraj came up when they were attacked in the second Test. His presence would also reduce pressure and over-burden on Jasprit Bumrah and it could all work in favour for India in the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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