‘Favourites toh hum hi hai’: Mohammed Shami warns Australia ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

India’s veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami feels Rohit Sharma’s team will be the favourites in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. India has won the last two Test series while playing against Australia in the Australian conditions.

Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India won their maiden Test series on Australian soil on the 2018-19 tour as they registered a 2-1 win. Subsequently, India won on the previous tour by the same margin under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy.

Meanwhile, Shami is currently out of action after suffering an ankle injury and he is going to hold the key for India on the upcoming tour. Shami had picked 16 wickets in four Test matches on the 2018-19 tour of Australia and had played an instrumental role in the team’s success.

Australia has failed to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy in the last decade and India has come up with a collective show. The Indian spinners have done the job while playing in home conditions, the pacers have been right on the money in the Australian conditions.

“Favourites toh hum hi hai, chinta unhe honi chahiye (We are the favourites; they should be worried),” Shami was quoted as saying by PTI on Saturday.

Shami has 229 wickets to his name in 64 Tests played so far and he will look to hit the ground running in the Border-Gavaskar series. The ace pacer also said he wants to come back when there is no discomfort in his bowling.

“Koshish jaldi hi kar raha hoon kyun ke main janta hoon kaafi time ho gaya hai team se bahar rehte hue (I am working hard to make a comeback soon because I know I have been out of action for quite some time). However, I want to ensure there is no discomfort when I return. I’ve got to work on my fitness so that there is no discomfort,” Shami told reporters during the Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) annual awards ceremony in Kolkata.

The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.