India, Feb. 4 -- With whatever the world has seen of Mohammed Shami's return to Indian cricket, the pacer has blown hot and cold. Shami played two T20Is against England, returning wicketless in the third T20I before picking up 3/25 at the Wankhede, in an innings where the opposition batting order crumbled and fell like a pack of cards. The fact that the BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has picked only three frontline pacers in Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah (subject to availability) becomes all the more crucial given the returning India pacer's showing.

If Bumrah is not declared fit, the onus will be on Shami - who has yet to bowl full-tilt - to spearhead India's bowling attack in Dubai. Harshit Rana is Bumrah'...