Despite calls from experts to join the India squad in Australia for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy, Mohammad Shami was on Monday was included in Bengal’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy team.

Shami, who returned from an injury lay-off in Bengal’s recent Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh, will play under batter Sudip Kr Gharami who was named captain.

Bengal will begin their campaign against Punjab in Rajkot on Saturday and with Shami, who took 7 wickets on his return, they have received a big boost.

Shami was not at his best with the ball in the second-innings but the India pacer still powered Bengal to a thrilling 11-run win over Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on November 16. Besides his bowling exploits of 7/156 in the match, Shami also registered his highest First-Class score for Bengal, knocking a quickfire 36-ball 37 in the second innings.

Although Shami was not named in India’s 18-member Border Gavaskar Trophy squad, but his childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin is hopeful that his ward will travel to Australia at some point in the series.

“He will be joining the Indian team after the Adelaide (second) Test. Now that he is back, proved his fitness, picked up wickets, he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” he told the Indian Express.

Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma won’t play in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between Australia and India in Perth starting Friday as he has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he needed more time with his wife after the birth of their second child earlier this week.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain of the team, will take over the reins in Rohit’s absence. Rohit is set to play the second match, a pink-ball Test, that begins in Adelaide on December 6.

India’s batting line-up will definitely see changes after Shubman Gill fractured his thumb while fielding during match simulation on Saturday. Gill will miss the first Test, opening a path for KL Rahul to make it to the playing XI.