India vs England: Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini likely to be added to squad for last two Tests

India fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini are reportedly set to join the team for the last two Tests of the ongoing four-match series against England. Both the bowlers were not a part of the squad for the first two Tests because of the injury they had sustained during the four-match Test series in Australia.

Shami had suffered the injury in the very first Test when he was hit on his forearm by a short delivery from Pat Cummins. Subsequent scans revealed fracture and Shami was ruled out of the entire series. Saini, on the other hand, was sidelined after suffering a groin injury on the first day of the fourth Test in Brisbane.

Both the pacers have regained their full fitness and are likely to be named in the squad for the next two Tests. According to a report in The Times of India, the Indian team management has asked them not to feature for their respective state sides in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The domestic one-day competition is scheduled to start on February 20.

“Saini is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He is bowling at full tilt. The Delhi selectors wanted to have his services for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but Saini was asked to stay back at NCA as he is likely to join the team in Ahmedabad,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Pool of T20 reserves ahead of T20 World Cup

The report further stated that the national selectors are also looking to form a pool of T20 specialists ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Nitish Rana and Sidharth Kaul are set to be a part of the pool. These players will train at the NCA as well as with the Indian team at different times.

“One must realise there has been no India ‘A’ tours in the last year and it is difficult to hold one in the near future. This is essentially the ‘A’ team. This is the reason they were asked to report to NCA for fitness tests. These players have been informed that they will be in standbys for the India T20I team. This is the reason why Rana wasn’t made the captain of the Delhi team for the Vijay Hazare tournament. These players could be called into Indian team anytime. They will be essentially appearing for trials, the source said.