Shami has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury in November last year during the ODI World Cup on home soil.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinted last month that Mohammed Shami might be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. However, unlike many other candidates for the Test series, Shami was not selected for the Duleep Trophy, which kicks off the domestic red-ball season in India. This omission raised concerns about his recovery and the possibility of him missing the subsequent Tests against New Zealand and Australia later this year. According to a media report, fitness was the primary concern for the BCCI.
Shami has been inactive since suffering an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup at home last November. He underwent surgery in the United Kingdom in February this year and has since been recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
The 34-year-old recently shared updates on social media about his return, showing himself bowling with a shortened run-up and lower intensity. This led to speculation that he might be available for the Duleep Trophy. However, the BCCI did not include him in the squad for the opening round of the tournament, which starts on September 5, raising questions about his availability for the Bangladesh Test series.
According to a PTI report on Sunday, there was no chance he would be fit in time for the Duleep Trophy, and the selectors decided not to rush his return before he was fully ready.
The selectors’ priority is to ensure that India’s top three pacers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj—are fit for the five-Test series in Australia later this year. Shami has claimed 229 wickets in 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls and 12 four-wicket hauls.
Shami’s Return Date Set
While Shami is expected to miss the Test series against Bangladesh, he is slated to return to competitive cricket with a few matches for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournament, starting in October, before featuring in one of the three Tests against New Zealand.
