India vs Australia: Umesh Yadav likely to replace Mohammed Shami

Umesh has been undergoing rehab at NCA after suffering a quad injury while playing county cricket in England. He has been deemed fit and the selectors have opted to try him out in the three-match T20I series against Australia starting next week, TOI has learnt. Umesh had last played a T20I for India against Australia in February 2019.

His last ODI was in 2018. However, he had a stellar IPL this year. The Indian team management and selectors have decided to play it safe by bringing in experienced pacers after the young lot struggled to handle the pressure in the recently-concluded Asia Cup in UAE.

The team management had invested a year in Avesh Khan but he too seems to have fallen off the radar. "Umesh is fit now. He has been asked to join the Indian team in Mohali.