Our 'Fab Five' pacers will dominate in Australia: Ravi Shastri
The head coach of Team India, Ravi Shastri, believes the Indian fast bowlers will once again rule the roost during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Down Under. He recalled how the pace contingent decimated the Australian batting line-up during the 2018/19 tour. Notably, this time, the grueling tour will commence with the three-ODI series on November 27. Here is more on the same.
Indian pace-bowling attack strong despite Ishant's absence: Shastri
Shastri talked about the propensity of India's pace-bowling attack. "We have a tremendous bowling attack. Ishant's absence does make a difference to the fast-bowling department, but then we have the capacity among the young bowlers to deliver. It is for the youth brigade to grab the chance and prove the quality of pace bowling is second to none," he said.
A look at the fast bowlers in India's Test squad
At the moment, the Indian pace-bowling attack consists of senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and the newly-added Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj. Notably, veteran seamer Ishant Sharma is yet to travel Down Under. While he is presently training at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, a call on his availability will be taken once he undergoes the fitness test.
Shastri speaks on the pink-ball Test in Adelaide
The first of four-Test series will be played in Adelaide, which will be a Day/Night affair. Speaking on the same, Shastri said, "It all depends on the surfaces. We begin with pink-ball cricket where we lack experience. We have played just one pink-ball Test (against Bangladesh in Kolkata), but there is a qualitative difference between them and Australia. It is like cheese and chalk."
'Ishant, Rohit should depart within next few days', says Shastri
It will be a race against time for Ishant and Rohit Sharma, who are undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA. Considering the mandatory 14-day quarantine, the duo must board fly out in the upcoming week in order to feature in the Test series. "They need to be on the flight within the next 4-5 days. If one can't, it's going to be tough," added Shastri.
The duo has been training at the NCA
Recently, Ishant bowled a couple of long spells in Bengaluru. He was closely monitored by the chairman of selectors, Sunil Joshi, and the NCA chief, Rahul Dravid, among others. Meanwhile, Rohit is also sweating it out to prove his fitness. He was earlier omitted from all three squads for the tour, however, the BCCI gave him a nod for the Test series.
