The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to be a thrilling contest between India and Australia. However, India’s preparations have been hampered by the absence of star pacer Mohammed Shami.
Shami, who played a crucial role in India’s historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, has been ruled out due to a persistent knee injury. His absence is a significant blow for the Indian team, especially considering his ability to swing the ball and extract reverse swing.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald has acknowledged the importance of Shami to the Indian team. “Mohammed Shami is a big loss,” McDonald said. “The way our batters speak about his relentless nature, his line and length, and the way he goes about his business, he’s a real good complementing skill set to Bumrah. So, they’ll lack a bit of that one-two punch.”
Despite Shami’s absence, McDonald remains cautious about underestimating the Indian team. He highlighted India’s depth in fast bowling, with players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the young talents of Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy ready to step up.
As the series approaches, both teams are gearing up for an intense battle. India will be aiming to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Australia will be looking to regain the prestigious trophy.