Sunil Gavaskar, legendary Indian opening batsman has urged the team management to take a chance and send Ishant Sharma to Australia as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, who has suffered a fracture on his right hand after taking a blow while batting during India’s eight-wicket loss in the Adelaide Test.
Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the remainder of Test series in Australia with a fracture in right hand whereas Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Test series despite recovering fully from a side strain which he picked up during IPL 2020.
Sunil Gavaskar: Mohammed Shami’s Injury Is A Big Problem As He Had Knack To Pick Regular Wickets
Sunil Gavaskar said India can take a chance with pacer Ishant Sharma and have him ready for 3rd Test, starting January 7th at Sydney. Mohammed Shami suffered a fracture on Saturday and is likely unable to take any further part in the remaining 3 Tests of 4-Test series.
The Indian pacer, who was instrumental in their 2-1 win Down Under in 2018-19, suffered a blow to his right hand while trying to sway away from a Pat Cummins bouncer on Saturday before India were all out for their lowest Test score of 36.
“It (Shami injury) is a big problem. he has the knack of taking wickets, he can shock the opposition with his bouncers and yorkers. If he is not playing, then it’s going to be trouble for India,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak on Saturday.
Sunil Gavaskar said Mohammed Shami’s absence will be a big blow for India and urged the management to fly in Ishant Sharma even if the senior fast bowler is fit enough and can bowl 20 overs a day.
Sunil Gavaskar: If Ishant Sharma Is Fit He Should Be Sent To Australia If He Is Capable To Bowl 20 Overs A Day
Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Test series following a side strain he picked up during Indian Premier League in the UAE after playing only a solitary IPL match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India said Ishant Sharma fully recovered from the injury after spending time at the National Cricket Academy but India decided against including the pacer in the squad due to workload management.
In the absence of Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, India will be left with Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav along with two inexperienced pacers Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini who are yet to make their Test debut.
“If Ishant Sharma is fit, I am suggesting to send him to Australia now. If he is capable of bowling 20 overs in a day, the management should send him to Australia on tomorrow’s flight so that he can be ready for the Sydney Test.”
“I am saying India should look at taking a chance because there is no proper back-up now. Navdeep Saini has the potential to pick wickets but the way he bowled in the warm-up matches, it doesn’t look like he will be able to trouble the Australia batsmen.”
Sunil Gavaskar said there aren’t enough backup options available as Navdeep Saini has potential to pick wickets but performed poorly in the second warm-up game and 2 ODIs. He picked 3 wickets in first innings of the second warm-up match but failed to replicate the same going wicketless in second innings.
Even if India decide to send Ishant Sharma as early as possible, the chances of the senior bowler taking part in the 3rd Test looks unlikely as a stringent 14-day mandatory quarantine norm is in place during which the player can’t train outdoors. It is a must for people flying into Australia. Batsman Rohit Sharma, who reached the country last week, has been in quarantine and is expected to be available for the 3rd Test, starting January 7.
Since the other fast bowlers like T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar all of whom participated in preceding limited-overs series were asked to stay as cover for Tests, they could be included in Test squad as back up options for Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.