India's best bowling attack, ft Shami, Bumrah to face Australia: Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that India has the opportunity to field their best-ever bowling attack in the highly anticipated Test series against Australia, featuring the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and the returning Mohammed Shami. With India currently engaged in a three-match home Test series against Bangladesh, many fans and experts see it as a build-up for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy clash with Australia.

In a recent interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar expressed his confidence in India’s bowling attack, predicting that it will be a force to be reckoned with when the series kicks off on November 22. He emphasised that if India’s batting lineup can deliver a solid performance in Australia, the team could repeat their historic success from the 2020–21 series and secure another series win.

“India has been to Australia before, but they might have the best bowling attack going this time, because Bumrah is at the peak of his career. Don’t know what high or heights in seam bowling that’s left for him. Shami comes back. Let’s not forget that Mohammed Shami. Then we have Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Bumrah and Akash Deep as your options. Seam bowling, absolutely no issue for India. I think the Australians will find them a handful,” Manjrekar said.

Shami, who played a crucial role in India’s triumph in 2018-19, was absent from the 2020-21 series but last featured in the Test format against Australia during the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June 2023. He has been out of action since undergoing surgery following the ODI World Cup 2023 final but is determined to make a full recovery and return to the national squad, most likely ahead of the Australia series.

“India will have to bat well, the seniors will obviously have to carry the burden. I think in many ways this will be a test for Shubman Gill and Yashashvi Jaiswal. If they come through, India might have another series win,” Yashavi Jaiswal

Manjrekar also highlighted that the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy will be a significant test for India’s young batting stars, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.

Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have been in strong run-scoring form recently, even in the Bangladesh Test where the latter had picked up a century in the Chennai Test, and Manjrekar believes they will look to continue their impressive performances in what promises to be a high-stakes series. The former Indian cricketer is optimistic about India’s chances, with a balanced team set to challenge Australia on their home turf.