Shastri backs India’s pace trio to shine in England

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes India’s fit-again pace trio will cause problems for the England batters in the five-match series starting in June.

The series will mark the beginning of the new ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with India heading into it on the back of white-ball success with their Champions Trophy triumph.

However, their Test side will be eager to bounce back following a disappointing outing in their previous assignment in Australia – a 3-1 series loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that eliminated their hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.

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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Bumrah, too, appears to have regained his rhythm in the IPL after the injury that sidelined him during the final match of the Border-Gavaskar series, which subsequently ruled him out of the Champions Trophy.

Shastri did, however, emphasise the need for India to manage Bumrah’s workload during the tour of England.

“I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah],” Shastri added. “I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break.

“Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up.

“He should be given the first opportunity to say, ‘Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.’ Give him that break.”

Shami made his return to international cricket for India only in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, following a long stint on the sidelines since the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final due to a knee injury.

His absence was particularly noticeable during the Border-Gavaskar series, where India struggled without a second senior pacer to share the workload with Bumrah.

In fact, Shami has not featured in red-ball cricket for India since the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia.

“You'll have to see how he's bowling in the nets, but I think there's enough experience there for him to start off,” Shastri said on Shami.

“The fact that he puts his hand up and says, ‘I'm available for that first Test match’ means he knows his fitness levels.

“He's a workhorse. I've known Shami for a long time. If he puts his mind to it, he'll get there. And the fact that there's Siraj and there's Jasprit doing as well as they are, that is just the motivation he needs to step up and get to that level.”

England and India will clash in the first of five Tests at Headingley in Leeds from 20 June, with subsequent Tests taking place in Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.

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