One of India’s struggles in that series was the availability of their pace attack – both Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have battled injury setbacks, while Mohammed Siraj struggled in the Border-Gavaskar series and was dropped from their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Siraj has since made a strong comeback in the ongoing IPL, claiming 12 wickets in eight matches so far, signalling he’s back to his best, while both Bumrah and Shami have recovered from their injuries.
Shastri, speaking in The ICC Review, believes the trio will play a key role in England.
“I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems,” Shastri said.
“It’s a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I’m glad he was hurt after being put out, not in the side for the Champions Trophy. That’s what you want.
“For him to go back to the drawing board and come back the way he has, there’s a spring in his stride, the pace is up there, and he means business game after game. And that is perfect from India’s point of view with England coming up.”
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