3 Players who can replace Mohammed Shami in India's playing XI for Boxing Day Test against Australia

Team India endured one of the toughest losses in Test history after they were bundled out for just 36 runs in the second innings of Adelaide Test against Australia. It was their lowest total ever in the longest format of the game. Apart from conceding the lead, they were dealt with another huge blow as their ace pacer Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the series with a fractured arm.

He was hit on the hand by a Pat Cummins bouncer and was in serious pain after which, he walked off the field putting an end to India’s innings. With Ishant Sharma already not part of the series, only Jasprit Bumrah is now left in the line-up among the trio which had created history on the 2018-19 tour.

The second Test is set to be played in Melbourne at the iconic MCG from December 26 and the visitors are already fretting over who will be their third pacer for the rest of the series.

Here are three options India have to replace Mohammed Shami in the line-up:

1. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has been in Australia for a long time but is yet to play even a single game on the tour (practice games not considered). He has made it to the Test squad after consistent performances in the domestic circuit and certainly has the potential to wreak havoc in the opposition.

In 38 first-class matches, he has picked 152 wickets so far with as many as 13 four-wicket hauls. He has also scalped a couple of five-fers and has also picked 10 wickets in a match twice.

Siraj was also the part of both the warm-up matches India played ahead of the Test series and he displayed his class. In the first practice match, Siraj picked three wickets in the first innings and also bowled bouncers relentlessly. He is a sort of like-for-like replacement for Mohammed Shami and can do wonders for India for the rest of the series.

2. Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini, Delhi cricketer, has risen through the ranks over the years. He first impressed in Ranji Trophy a couple of seasons ago and then kept his form going in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his ODI and T20I debut last year on West Indies and hasn’t looked back since then.

Saini has played 7 ODIs and 10 T20Is so far picking 6 and 13 wickets respectively. In 46 first-class matches that he featured in so far, the speedster has accounted for 128 wickets which certainly proves that he has in it to make it big with the red-ball in the longest form of the game.

Like Mohammed Shami, Saini also has raw pace and he can trouble Australia with it. He played the day-night warm-up and looked in good touch picking three wickets for just 19 runs in the first innings. At times, he can go runs but Saini is also a wicket-taker.

3. T Natarajan

This could be the most surprising and out of the box pick. T Natarajan has been told to stay back in Australia after impressive performances in the limited-overs leg as a net bowler and he might well end up making his Test debut.

It might not be realistic but the left-arm angle which he brings gives variety to the bowling attack and add to it, the way he performed in four matches he played on the tour. Moreover, reports surfaced that he even troubled Ajinkya Rahane in the nets with the red-ball.

His first-class record is also brilliant having picked 64 wickets in 20 matches with three five-wicket hauls to his name. Natarajan lacks genuine pace like Mohammed Shami but his variations will definitely keep the Aussie on their toes always. However, for him to play, Natarajan should first be added to the Test squad.