Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his strong desire for pacer Mohammed Shami to be on the next flight to Australia. This comes after Shami’s impressive return to competitive cricket during the Ranji Trophy, where he played a crucial role in Bengal’s thrilling 11-run victory over Madhya Pradesh.
Shami’s Stellar Performance in Ranji
In his first competitive match after a year-long injury layoff, Shami showcased his skills by taking seven wickets across both innings. He recorded figures of 4/54 in the first innings and contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 37 runs off just 36 balls in the second innings. His performance was pivotal in helping Bengal secure a narrow win at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Ganguly commented on Shami’s performance, stating, “He keeps bowling; he should be on the flight. He has bowled today as well. He should be on the next flight to Australia.” His remarks highlight the urgency and importance of Shami’s inclusion in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.
Aiming for Australia
Despite not being named in India’s initial 18-member squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami’s childhood coach, Mohammed Badruddin, remains optimistic about his chances. Badruddin believes that Shami will join the Indian team after the second Test in Adelaide. “Now that he is back, proved his fitness, picked up wickets; he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” he stated.
Ganguly also shared insights about other players. He suggested that Prasidh Krishna might feature ahead of Akash Deep in the Perth Test starting November 22. He indicated that conditions would favour Krishna due to his height and bowling style.
“Shami may miss the Perth Test, but that will be bowling-friendly conditions. I think Prasidh will play ahead of Akash Deep, because of the height and conditions. So, Shami should be on the flight and should be ready to play the Adelaide Test,” he noted.
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