After winning the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India lost to Australia in the third Test in Indore. India pacer Mohammad Shami, who picked seven wickets in the first two Tests, did not feature in the third and was replaced by Umesh Yadav.
Meanwhile, Shami made his return in the fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team led by Steve Smith chose to bat first after winning the toss, and Australia were at their best on Day 1, scoring 255/4 by stumps.
On Day 2, Australia kept their momentum as they did not lose a wicket in the first session. Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary duty during Shami’s over, opined that resting the senior fast bowler in the third Test was not a smart move by the hosts.
"Resting Mohammed Shami was not a smart move. You had 8 days break between the 2nd and the 3rd Test. He bowled military medium in his first two deliveries. That's how it's got to be. The batter is nervous, he is not yet off the mark. If he sees the ball go harmlessly to the keeper, he gets an opportunity to see what the pitch is doing. He can then mentally start to relax just that little bit," said Gavaskar.
'It was an opportunity for us that someone like Siraj or Umesh also get a game'- India bowling coach on resting Shami
While speaking in a press conference after Day 1, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey was asked about the team’s decision to rest Shami. He said that if the team rests one player it is to provide opportunities to others as well.
"You have to take a call as you also have to look at the individual workload of each bowler. I think the way we looked at Shami, we needed to give him that break and it was an opportunity for us that someone like Siraj or Umesh also get a game. Looking ahead after this series, we have the World Championship (final) and we need to look at that as well. You have to at times, rotate bowlers and it is important for players as well," Mhambrey explained.
Meanwhile, Shami returned to the XI and made an impressive comeback in the series-decider, picking up wickets of Marnus Labuschagne (3) and Peter Handscomb (17) on Day 1.
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