For the next Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, former head coach Ravi Shastri believes that India would benefit from having Mohammed Shami, a fast bowler, rejoin to the squad as soon as feasible.

Shami successfully returned to competitive cricket for Bengal in their current Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Holkar Stadium in Indore after missing 360 days of play due to an achilles injury that required surgery.

Shami showed that he is gradually returning to his peak form by bowling for 19 overs and taking an outstanding 4/54. “If anything, I would have liked Jasprit (Bumrah) to have a little more assistance in the pace-bowling assault. Therefore, I believe it’s better for India the sooner Mohammed Shami recovers and boards a plane,” Shastri said on the ICC Review program.

If all goes according to plan, Shami should be ready for the second part of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy journey, which begins in Perth on November 22 and continues through games in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney until January 7, 2025.

For India to have a good chance of securing their spot in the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive year, they must win four of the five Test matches in Australia. With 229 wickets in 64 Test matches, Shami has made a name for himself as a key player in India’s fast-bowling lineup, helping the side win both domestic and international matches.

In 2018–19, Shami was instrumental in India’s first-ever Test series victory in Australia, taking 16 wickets at an average of 26.18 in four games as the visitors prevailed 2-1. Despite missing the 2020–21 tour’s opening Test match in Adelaide because of a broken right forearm, India won a thrilling 2-1 victory.