Mohammed Shami will be more prudent than Ishant: Aakash Chopra

Despite off-field issues marring the ongoing India-Australia Test series, there has been some exceptional brand of cricket played by the two teams over the course of the last 3 Tests. With the decider scheduled to begin in 12 hours time, both teams will be geared up for the challenge. While the visitors stunned the hosts by 333 runs in the opening encounter at Pune, India came back strongly in the Bengaluru Test to level the series 1-1.

Both teams batted exceptionally well in the 3rd Test with Aussie captain Steve Smith and Cheteshwar Pujara scoring the bulk of the runs for their respective teams as the match ended in a draw. Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh battled out the final day of the Test to ensure Australia still had the hopes of winning a Test series in India after 13 years.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes India will be in a slightly advantageous position going into the final Test after pushing Australia to a corner in the 3rd Test. Though Australia managed to save the Test, India was by far the superior team in the match.

Chopra in his article on the Quint wrote, “In my opinion, India walk into this Test with a slight advantage by the virtue of really stretching Australia’s resources and resolve in Ranchi. But still, it won’t be unfair to say that pressure is on the hosts to make all the moves and produce a result in their favour, for a series scoreline of 1-1 will help Australia retain the trophy.”

Chopra felt that the Indian bowlers ran out of energy during the 3rd Test which might be an indication of the heavy workload they are going through in the past few months. While Jadeja has been the fittest Indian player along with Kohli, Ashwin has faced the toll of bowling over 700 overs throughout the home season.

“Ashwin and Jadeja have bowled over 700 overs each in this long home Test season and therefore might need some support to see through the final leg. While Jadeja is visibly fitter and therefore hasn’t looked really tired, Ashwin’s lack of penetration in the previous Test might have been due to a huge amount of workload,” Chopra wrote.

The former cricketer and a current analyst feel Mohammed Shami will be a better choice than Ishant Sharma in the final Test. “Recently, Shami who played two List-A games, was with the team in Ranchi and has travelled to Dharamsala. All this indicates, him coming back to fitness and even though it might be unfair on Ishant, it’s more prudent to play Shami for the final Test,” he wrote.