Shastri, Ponting lament Shami's absence from BGT

The pacer could have changed the course of the 2024-25 edition of the series, feel former stars

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series, with Australia hammering India 3-1 to eventually reclaim the trophy after a decade's wait, cricket experts from either side lamented the absence of star quick Mohammed Shami from the crucial tour with Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting pointing out that the pacer's presence might have made a difference.

Shami's prolonged absence from the Indian set-up due to injury concerns has not only adversely impacted the team's progress in red-ball cricket in recent months, but his absence in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy meant India lacked the experience in the bowling attack, that was heavily reliant on the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.