Jasprit Bumrah drops big Mohammed Shami update on Border-Gavaskar Trophy selection

India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah has admitted veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s potential to dazzle under Australian conditions in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy “if everything goes well”. Shami’s omission from India’s squad for the BGT series has become one of the biggest talking points as the five-match Test series intensifies. Since appearing in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, the 34-year-old had been sidelined for a year before making his competitive return for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.

Shami’s grace with red-hot pace against Madhya Pradesh was enough for many former stars to further his case as part of India’s pace bowling unit in Australia.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel witnessed Shami’s competitiveness at the net during India’s home Test against New Zealand. On Wednesday, he admitted that he is closely monitoring Shami’s progress.

Bumrah recognizes the importance of Shami in India’s red-ball set-up and admitted the right-arm seamer could travel to Australia as part of the tough Test series.

“Shami is essential and the management is monitoring him closely. If everything goes well, we might see him here too,” Bumrah told reporters ahead of Friday’s opening Test in Perth. .

Before the series opener, various reports had suggested that Shami might travel to Australia to promote India’s cause of retaining the title.

Upon his return to competitive cricket, Shami picked up the blitzkrieg pace and took Bengal across the goal line with a mouth-watering performance in the Ranji Trophy, returning with match figures of 7/57.

Shami is well-known for his consistency and length, which has rocked Madhya Pradesh’s batting unit at various stages.

Shami will continue to be active in the domestic circuit until the management decides to call up the veteran seamer. He has been selected in the Bengal squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

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