CHENNAI : With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to be fit for the first Test against England starting on August 1, Mohammed Shami is set to earn a recall after being dropped for the match against Afghanistan for failing a fitness test. It is understood that Shami, who underwent rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, has cleared a fitness test and is expected to be named by the selectors when the squad is announced on Wednesday or Thursday.
With regards to Bumrah, though the pacer is also set to be named in the squad, he is unlikely to be considered for the first two Tests. The pacer is likely to undergo a fitness test before departing for England.
If picked, Shami, whose last competitive match was way back in April, will feature in a warm-up fixture against county side Essex beginning on July 25. With Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane currently part of India A’s match against England Lions, India are likely to field a full-strength side for the Essex fixture.
With regards to the wicketkeeper’s slot, Wriddhiman Saha’s chances of being part of the squad look bleak as he is yet to recover from a thumb injury. As reported earlier, Dinesh Karthik has emerged as the first-choice in Tests and Saha might not even get the second wicketkeeper’s slot. Though Parthiv Patel is next in line, Express understands that Rishabh Pant might earn a maiden Test call-up, with the selectors set to hold discussions with India A coach Rahul Dravid. The Delhi gloveman has scored three fifties in the ongoing A series in England.
Meanwhile, the suspense over the two slots available for spinners continues, as captain Virat Kohli indicated to Sky Sports last week that the team is looking to include both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the Test squad. Selectors had earlier turned down a request from Kohli to pick Chahal for the Tests against South Africa, but since then the leg-spinner’s graph has been on the ascendency.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com