Shami Benched Again, Sharma Triumphs Over Injury Jitters In Chennai Test

The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia in Chennai saw some major talking points, with Mohammed Shami being benched in favor of Navdeep Saini and Rohit Sharma making a triumphant return from injury.

Shami's Benching - A Surprising Move

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, was surprisingly benched for the first Test in Chennai. This decision raised eyebrows, as Shami has been in excellent form lately, picking up 21 wickets in his last three Tests.

The team management cited Shami's workload management as the reason for his omission. Shami had played in all three Tests against England and also bowled a lot in the recently concluded T20I and ODI series against Australia. The team management wanted to give him a break to ensure he is fresh for the upcoming Tests.

Sharma's Triumphant Return

Rohit Sharma, India's vice-captain, made a triumphant return to the Indian team after recovering from a hamstring injury. Sharma missed the last three Tests against England and the T20I and ODI series against Australia due to the injury.

Sharma looked in good touch in his first innings, scoring a fluent 37 before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. He also bowled a few overs of off-spin, showing that he is gradually getting back to full fitness.

Different Perspectives

There were different perspectives on the team management's decision to bench Shami. Some experts believe that it was a wise decision to rest Shami, considering his heavy workload in recent months.

Others, however, believe that it was a mistake to leave out Shami, as he is India's best fast bowler. They argue that Shami could have been rested for the third or fourth Test, instead of the first Test.

Data Points and Examples

According to data from ESPNcricinfo, Shami has taken 21 wickets in his last three Tests at an average of 13.61. This shows that he has been in excellent form lately.

On the other hand, Navdeep Saini has taken only 12 wickets in his six Tests at an average of 39.08. This shows that he is not as experienced or as effective as Shami.

Conclusion

The benching of Mohammed Shami and the return of Rohit Sharma were two major talking points in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team management has defended the decision to bench Shami, stating that it was a necessary move to manage his workload. However, many experts believe that it was a mistake to leave out Shami, as he is India's best fast bowler.

The return of Rohit Sharma is a major boost for the Indian team. Sharma is a world-class batsman and his experience and leadership will be invaluable in the upcoming Tests.

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