Things have started going downhill for Team India since clinching the T20I series against the Australian. Following the abysmal pink-ball Test cricket loss at Adelaide, the Indians will have to face the Aussies without the likes of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shame in the second Test. Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has now opined that BCCI should get Ishant Sharma in Australia to replace Shami if the pace bowler is available to play.
Ishant Sharma Will Be The Ideal Replacement For Injured Shami: Sunil Gavaskar
Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar stated that Shami’s absence will be a big blow for Team India. “It 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.
Gavaskar went as far as to suggest that India should immediately bring in Ishant Sharma if he is fit. “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,” he said.
“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,” he further added.
India will need to step their game up in the second Test
India will take on Australia for the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26. Team India will definitely miss the services of their skipper Virat Kohli as he would be on paternity leave. As per some reports, Shami suffered a fractured arm. According to news agency ANI, Shami has been ruled out of the Test series, though an official confirmation on the same from BCCI is still awaited.
India’s batsmen fell on their face while facing the Australian bowlers in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide. Opener Prithvi Shaw looked completely baffled while Hanuma Vihari was clearly not up to the mark. Team India will seemingly require a complete revamp in the playing Xl for the upcoming Test. Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja can Wriddhiman Saha, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari in the second Test respectively.
India suffered a mammoth collapse on Day 3 by scoring just 36 and the last batsman to fall was Mohammad Shami as the player was struck by Cummins on the forearm and was forced to retire hurt.
