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Windies legend Andy Roberts heaped praise on the 34-year-old pacer who could feature for India in the fourth and fifth Tests slated to be played at the MCG and SCG respectively.
Mohammed Shami. (File Photo)
Team India could be boosted by the possible return of star pacer Mohammed Shami to the squad for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 25 against the Australians down under.
The series stands level at 1-1 at the end of two Tests of the five-match series and West Indies legend Andy Roberts heaped praise on the 34-year-old pacer who could feature for the side in the fourth and fifth Tests slated to be played at the MCG and SCG respectively.
Roberts labelled Shami as India’s best bowling option and went on to enumerate the special things the seamer from Aligargh is capable of doing with the red cherry.
“Shami has been India’s best bowler for a while,” Roberts said.
Roberts opined that Shami might not feature as many times on the wicket sheets as compatriot Jasprit Bumrah does, but has the consistency to rival the pacer from Gujarat.
“He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he’s the full package and is more consistent than the rest,” the 73-year-old Antiguan stated.
Roberts lauded Shami’s ability to swing and seam the ball in addition to his masterful control over the ball.
“Shami swings the ball, Shami seams the ball and Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s,” Roberts added.
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India opened the series on a positive note as the visitors took an early lead with their 295-run win over the Aussies at Perth in the opener, but were pegged back by Pat Cummins and Co. who registered a 10-wicket win at Adelaide in the second Test.
The third Test of the BGT is slated to be played at The Gabba and is slated to get underway on the 14th of December. While there is virtually no possibility that Shami could rack up for the game in Brisbane, the possible return of the seamer to the Indian fold for the penultimate and ultimate games of the tour could bolster India’s chances in the tournament.
