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Shami’s stiff leg a factor in lopsided squad
- Updated: December 2, 2016
The score might be 2-0 in India’s favour, but the hosts got there despite significant fitness issues in the lead-up to the third Test in Mohali. Apart from late injuries to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and opener KL Rahul, India also had to deal with the possibility of fast bowler Mohammed Shami missing the match. Shami had been dealing with a stiff leg, which explained the presence of five fast bowlers in a squad that did not have a back-up opener.
A few days before the Mohali game, India’s selectors had picked the squad for the last three Tests against England. Gautam Gambhir was dropped, three matches after making a comeback, in favour of Rahul, whose young career has been injury ridden. Virat Kohli’s team takes pride in covering every base, so the absence of a back-up opener did not go unnoticed.
“Shami was having some stiffness in his hamstring, I think,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. The team management wanted to ensure there was fast-bowling cover if a traditional Mohali surface, with bounce and lateral movement, was prepared. “In Kolkata [against New Zealand], we saw a good green top. We had the luxury of playing an extra seamer there and it really paid off as Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] took a crucial five-wicket haul. That’s what we wanted to be ready for here as …
