Shami lands in Dharamshala; likely to play in place of Karun Nair

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: In a major boost for Team India, Mohammed Shami has joined the squad and in all probability will feature in the playing XI for the fourth and final Test at Dharamshala.

Mohammed Shami landed in Dharamshala on Wednesday, while the entire Indian Team had reached the Himalayan foothills a day earlier on Tuesday. 

Shami himself confirmed his arrival on Dharamshala via microblogging site twitter.

Beautiful morning in dharamshala pic.twitter.com/sIlRXbbSlq

— Mohammed Shami (@MdShami11) March 22, 2017

Shami, who last turned up for India in the third Test at Mohali against England had been sidelined for a long sustained knee injury. The 26-year old fast bowler however, did prove his mettle in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, clocking over 140 kmph on a regular basis on a slow and low Feroz Shah Kotla track. Shami also had four wickets to show for.  

Indian captain Virat Kohli had revealed his plans of drafting in Shami to bolster their pace line up for a seamer friendly Dharamshala at the post-match press conference in Ranchi. 

“We sent him to play, wanted to give him match practice… I’ve not spoken to selectors but all kinds of possibilities are there approaching the next Test,” said Kohli. 

The Indian team failed to close out the third Test which ended in a draw, making the Dharamsahala Test a decider.

India’s lower middle order comprising of Saha, Ashwin and Jadeja has shown that they can stand up when the chips are down. So, it only makes sense that an extra bowler is drafted in to strengthen the bowling department. 

If Shami does make it to the playing XI then Karun Nair will have to make way for him as the rest of the batting order seems settled. 

The fourth Test will start from March 25.