The wait is almost over to find out who will lead India in the upcoming Test series against England. The team for the tour will be announced on Saturday, and all eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah as the potential new captain. However, news about Bumrah and Mohammad Shami isn’t promising.
Concerns over key players
India is set to play a 5-match Test series in England starting June 20. The English conditions are known to favor fast bowlers, but both Shami and Bumrah, two of India’s most experienced bowlers, are facing fitness issues. Shami is likely to miss the tour due to fitness concerns, while Bumrah won’t play all 5 matches. Bumrah got injured during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy and then went on to play in the IPL, where he’s currently one of the top wicket-takers.
BCCI’s medical team weighs in
According to a report by The Indian Express, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team has informed the board that Shami won’t be able to bowl for extended periods. The report also states that Shami has already told the BCCI that his body can’t handle more than 3 Test matches. This raises questions about whether Bumrah, who might not play all 5 Tests, will be considered for the captaincy.
Captaincy options
If Bumrah doesn’t play all 5 Tests, it’s unlikely he’ll be chosen as captain. Shubman Gill could be a potential captain for the tour. A BCCI source said, “Mohammad Shami is bowling his full spell for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the board and selectors don’t know if he can bowl more than 10 overs in a day. English pitches demand long spells from fast bowlers, so we can’t take any risks.”
Shami’s current form
This season, Shami has played 9 matches, bowled 180 balls, conceded 337 runs, and taken only 6 wickets with an economy rate of over 11. He has been in and out of the team due to injuries and last played a Test match against Australia in June 2023. In Test cricket, Shami has 229 wickets in 64 matches and 122 innings.