Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia is now uncertain, as Rohit Sharma has expressed concerns about his fitness and readiness for the series.
Source: NDTV
India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma shared disappointing news on Tuesday while addressing the media ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. When asked about the rehabilitation status of pacer Mohammed Shami, Rohit all but confirmed that Shami would not be traveling with the team to Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Test series. Shami has been sidelined from cricketing duties since the 2023 ODI World Cup, and despite several reports of his imminent return, the veteran pacer has faced multiple setbacks.
During a media interaction in Bengaluru, Rohit Sharma confirmed that Mohammed Shami is unlikely to feature in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia, even if he recovers in time. Rohit revealed that Shami, who has been sidelined due to a knee injury, is still ‘undercooked’ and hasn’t played cricket for a significant period. Despite nearing full fitness, Shami faced a setback when his knee swelled, forcing him to restart his rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Rohit emphasized that rushing Shami back into the team wouldn’t be a wise decision. “We don’t want to bring an undercooked Shami to Australia. That wouldn’t be the right call,” Rohit stated. He explained that the fast bowler is currently working with the NCA’s physios and doctors, and the team management is keeping their fingers crossed for his full recovery.
To ensure Shami is match-ready, the plan is for him to play a few internal matches before rejoining the national team. “We want to give him enough time to recover and be 100 percent fit. The physios, the trainers, and the doctors have set a roadmap for him. He’s supposed to play a couple of practice games before he plays international cricket,” Rohit Sharma added.
Earlier, reports surfaced suggesting that Shami had been ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar series, but the pacer quickly dismissed these rumors. Taking to social media, Shami reassured fans, saying, “Why these types of baseless rumors? I’m working hard and trying my best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor I have mentioned that I am out of the Border-Gavaskar series.”
While Rohit Sharma has indicated that Shami’s chances of playing in the Australia series are slim, he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility. The final decision will depend on Shami’s progress in his rehabilitation and whether he can prove his fitness in time for the series.
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