Brisbane. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami bowled passionately during India’s first training session at the Gabba on Sunday, looking to regain full fitness ahead of Monday’s first warm-up game against Australia. Shami, who arrived in Brisbane after recovering from Kovid-19, was included in the 15-man squad in place of injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. On Sunday, Shami took part in a plenary session with coach Rahul Dravid. He is returning to the team after almost three months.
During the first session, Shami was seen trying to find the rhythm as he bowled the team’s best batsman Virat Kohli for a long time. His match fitness will be known only from the upcoming warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand. There is no doubt that even 80 per cent fit Shami will be more effective with his skills than Harshal Patel who has been out of shape for quite some time now.
Dinesh Karthik played big shots against Harshal during the net session on Sunday. Karthik played easy shots at deep midwicket and square leg off Harshal’s balls. Karthik lost his leg stump while trying to scoop off Shami’s delivery and the Bengal pacer had a smile on his face after that. But it remains to be seen whether Dravid and Rohit will play Shami against Australia or try two more nets sessions against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Both the practice matches will be live telecast in the Indian subcontinent and will give everyone a clear picture of what India will play against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23. Both Rishabh Pant and Karthik did well in the nets but who will make it to the playing XI will probably be clear considering the batting order of the two warm-up matches. Standby fast bowlers Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur have also reached Brisbane.
The Rohit Sharma-led team had earlier defeated Australia and South Africa in the T20I series at home. This victory will boost the confidence of his team. India had played two warm-up matches against Western Australia in preparation for the World Cup, in which Rohit’s team won one and lost one. Although the Australian team under the captaincy of Aaron Finch is very strong at home, but the team recently lost the T20 series to England, after which questions were raised about their preparations for the World Cup.