SA vs IND 2023: Mohammed Shami will be a big miss, says Rohit Sharma before Test series

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that Mohammed Shami will be a big miss in the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. Shami has been ruled of the South Africa Tests due to an ankle injury.

In Shami’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to be India’s frontline bowlers whereas it will be interesting to note who India will back between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna.

Shami ended the ODI World Cup 2023 as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps in seven matches and he bowled with an impressive average of 10.71, including three five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul.

Meanwhile, India has never won a Test series in South African conditions and they will look to create history.

“Very important Test series. We have never won a series here. It’s a big opportunity for us. We came close the last two times. That gives us a lot of excitement and encouragement to do our best. Our seamers have done well in Australia, England, and South Africa. The seamers have pulled their weight in. Shami will be a big miss,” Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma confirmed that he wants to play in all three forms of the game. Rohit last played in the T20I format in the T20 World Cup 2022 and thus there are question marks on his participation in the upcoming T20I showpiece.

Furthermore, Rohit also confirmed that KL Rahul will keep wickets in the two-match Test series.

“I am not sure how long KL Rahul would want to keep wickets but he is keen as of now,” said Rohit.

Rohit is not sure if the Test series win in South Africa will be a balm for the World Cup final loss against Australia.

“I don’t know whether a Test series win in South Africa can be a balm for a World Cup final defeat. I mean World Cup is World Cup. Itni mehnaat ki haai, kuch toh result milein. (We have been working so hard, it’s time we get some big result). We all want that,” Rohit answered typically in his own sweet style.

India Test Squad vs SA

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).