Indian selectors may make two changes for the last two Tests against Australia

While the winning team is usually not regrouped, the national selectors may have to make a couple of changes to the current Test squad. India trumped Australia in the second Test which can be called a historical win, but there still remains one expected change in the team composition – the recall of Mohammed Shami.

The 26-year-old Bengal pacer, who has successfully recovered from injury, may be added to the Test squad for the remainder of the 4-Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series to replace Hardik Pandya. The selection committee meets in Bangalore today to finalise the list.

Shami last played for India in November last year and has since been training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for injury rehabilitation process. Recently he participated in a Vijay Hazare game in Chennai and is understood to have recovered from the debilitating injury. Shami’s return may cause a headache to the Indian team management because the other two pacers, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, are doing a fair job in the series so far. But ruling out a classy bowler as Shami is not an option either.

Shami’s return may cause a headache to the Indian team management because the other two pacers, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, are doing a fair job in the series so far. But ruling out a classy bowler as Shami is not an option either.

Also to be seen is whether opener Rohit Sharma, who recently played for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to determine his fitness, will make a comeback or no. He too has been camping at the NCA for some weeks. The Mumbai batsman has been out of action since last October, still seems to be carrying a bit of rustiness. The fitness status of Murali Vijay, who missed the second Test, still remains unknown.

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Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane seems to have finally found his rhythm. He has scores of 13, 18 and 17 in his last three knocks. But the vice-captain has hit his 11th Test half century when it mattered the most and helped India seal a deal in the Bengaluru Test.