Virat Kohli-led Team India will be spoiled for choice in the upcoming pink ball Test match against Joe Root’s England at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Indian speed merchant Mohammed Shami is likely to return to the Test setup alongside pacer Navdeep Saini as the pace duo has recovered from their respective injuries. Saini had sustained a groin injury in the Brisbane Test against Australia while Shami had fractured his right arm during the series opener of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
According to a report in Times of India, the Indian think tank will announce the squad of the Kohli-led side for the final two Test matches following the conclusion of the 2nd Test at Chepauk. “Saini is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He has bowling at full tilt. The Delhi selectors wanted to have his services for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but Saini was asked to stay back at NCA as he is likely to join the team in Ahmedabad,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying.
India’s pace battery has been spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma in the ongoing England Test series. However, Bumrah was rested for the 2nd Test as the seasoned campaigner was replaced by Mohammed Siraj. India also have Shardul Thakur as a backup pacer in the current squad. While Team India is yet to announce the squad for the remaining games of the bilateral series, England have confirmed that star all-rounder Moeen Ali has chosen to return home after playing only the 2nd Test of the four-match series.
