Rohit Sharma has raised concerns over the participation of a key bowler in India’s terrific pace attack for the upcoming tour Down Under against Australia. In a press conference ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, Rohit voiced concerns over the availability of Mohammed Shami, who has been out injured for a while now.
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India’s pace spearhead, Shami encountered yet another setback on his road to recovery recently. After a long journey back from an ankle injury that ruled him out of IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup, Shami now faces a fresh challenge with a flaring knee injury.
The injury, which has led to swelling in his right knee, could potentially derail his participation in India’s upcoming five-Test series against Australia starting on November 24, with Rohit Sharma all but ruling him out of the series.
“To be honest, it is difficult to make a call on him for Australia series,” Rohit Sharma said.
“He had a setback and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit and had to start again. He’s at the NCA with doctors and physios. We don’t want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed.”
Having not played for India since emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami was gearing up for a comeback. Over the past few months, he had shared regular updates about his recovery, showcasing his practice sessions and his determination to return to full fitness. However, this fresh injury has put a cloud over his return to international cricket.
According to a BCCI source, the medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has been working diligently to get Shami back to competitive cricket, but the recent flare-up in his knee has become a significant concern. “Shami had resumed bowling and was on track to return soon, but the knee injury has flared up recently. The BCCI medical team is assessing the extent of the damage, but this could delay his return by a few months,” the source said.
Shami was initially expected to make a tentative return during India’s upcoming series against New Zealand starting on October 16, which would have given him valuable match practice ahead of the demanding Australia tour. However, the knee injury now places his participation in serious doubt, with his only potential shot at playing being the solitary warm-up game before the Test series.
With the five-Test series against Australia marking the first such long-format contest between the two sides in 30 years, India will need to manage their bowling resources carefully. The tour begins in Perth, a venue known for its fast and bouncy conditions, making the inclusion of four pacers almost mandatory. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are likely to be the first-choice seamers with Akash Deep also making a strong case, but with Shami’s availability uncertain, India might have to look to other options such as Yash Dayal, Arshdeep Singh, or Mukesh Kumar.
Shami’s absence could leave India vulnerable in their pace attack, as Bumrah, Deep and Siraj will need to be managed carefully to avoid injuries. Shami’s experience and ability to lead the attack in challenging conditions could have been crucial to India’s success Down Under.
As the BCCI’s medical team continues to monitor Shami’s progress, the clock is ticking for him to regain full fitness and play a part in India’s critical series against Australia. For now, India will have to prepare for a potentially Shami-less campaign, hoping that other promising fast bowlers can step up and fill the void if necessary.
