BCCI names a veteran left-arm pacer to replace Mohammed Shami for Bangladesh Tests

After the three-match ODI series, India and Bangladesh will lock horns in two tests starting on December 14. However, ahead of the ODI series, India dealt with a few injuries to their key players. Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami was also ruled out of the tour due to a shoulder injury.

Notably, India is already missing the services of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and an injury to Shami will make the Indian bowling attack a bit inexperienced. Thus, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a veteran pacer as his replacement.

Earlier, a few reports confirmed that it might be Jammu pacer Umran Malik who will replace Shami in the team. But on Saturday morning, the BCCI named Jaydev Unadkat to be the bowler to replace the 32-year-old.

Notably, Unadkat was not on the radar of the Indian team, and it was India "A" pacer Mukesh Kumar who was another player in contention as a replacement. Unadkat made his test debut for India against South Africa a decade ago, in December 2010.

He has played one test only and couldn't pick any wicket in that match. India lost that game by an inning and 25 runs. But Unadkat has been performing well on the domestic circuit for the last five years or so. He was a vital member of the Saurastra team that won the Ranji Trophy in 2019–20.

He picked up a record 67 wickets, the most by any bowler in one season. However, in the last three seasons of the Ranji Trophy, he has claimed 115 wickets in 21 games. He was also the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking 19 wickets in 10 games.

Unadkat also led the Saurastra to title glory. He has played 7 ODIs for India, picking up 8 wickets with the best figure of 4/41. In T20Is for India, he has taken 14 wickets.