India’s decision to rotate pacers in a series dominated by spinners has been questioned but bowling coach Paras Mhambrey insisted it will benefit the speedsters in the long run.

While Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj played the first two Tests, it was Umesh Yadav who got a home Test in Indore at the expense of Shami. For the final Test, Shami is back while Siraj has been rested, giving Umesh a rare back-to-back appearance in a home series.

“You have to take a call as you also have to look at the individual workload of each bowler,” Mhambrey said on Thursday. “I think the way we looked at Shami, we needed to give him that break and it was an opportunity for us that someone like Siraj or Umesh also got a game.

“Looking ahead after this series, we have the World Test Championship (final) and we need to look at that as well. You have to at times, rotate bowlers and it is important for players as well.”

India are yet to qualify for the WTC final, to be played at The Oval in June, but are favourites to do so.

Mhambrey termed the Motera track a belter. “Looks like a batting track. We expected that having seen the wicket yesterday (Wednesday), unlike the other three venues that we played at,” said Mhambrey.

“First session, they batted well. Initially, runs were leaked and the second session was good for us but as the ball got old, run-scoring became difficult... We conceded 56 in the last 10 overs. At the end of the day, if it was 220 for 4, it would have been good for us.”

Written with PTI inputs