New Delhi: Mohammed Shami needs to be on the next flight to Australia while India must include all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in their team for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series that begins in Perth on November 22, Sourav Ganguly said on Tuesday.
Since opening match of the high-profile series is in the traditionally bouncy Perth, India should pick seamer-batter Reddy and one of spinners Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja.
“Look, there is absolutely no point in playing two specialist spinners either at Perth (Optus) or at the Gabba (Brisbane). You obviously need to find a way to play Reddy in these conditions. He is a good batsman and coming in at lower middle order, it will lend proper balance to the side,” the former India skipper told PTI.
After Perth, the five-Test series moves to Adelaide for a day-night game for which India should bring in Mohammd Shami, who has returned from injury.
Shami was back in action in a Ranji Trophy game for Bengal after a year absence and claimed seven wickets in the match. He is set to play in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament before BCCI selectors decide on his availability for the BGT.
‘Shami fit enough’
Ganguly, however, felt the star pacer should join the team as soon as possible as it would be a major boost to India’s pace bowling line-up that is too dependent on Jasprit Bumrah in Shami’s absence.
“Shami bowled nearly 45 overs, fielded for more than 100 overs and also scored some runs. That’s a good enough fitness test to be sent to Australia because you need a bowler of his calibre alongside Jasprit Bumrah,” he said.
Apart from Shami, India are without skipper Rohit Sharma (paternity leave) and injured Shubman Gill, which is a blow in the eyes of Ganguly.
“Shubman’s injury is jolt for the team no doubt as he is an in-form batter and has scored in Australia. A thumb fracture could rule him out for two Tests.
“But I believe the other batters would step up in absence of Rohit (on paternity leave) and Shubman during the first Test. I don’t think New Zealand defeat would have any bearing on this series,” the former BCCI president said, adding that Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant are the two key men for India.
Sourav Ganguly spoke on the Border-Gavaskar series and what India need to do to perform as per expectations in Australia Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
