India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket may be further delayed due to a “recent setback.” Shami, who had surgery on his right Achilles tendon in February, has now developed swelling in his knee, which has slowed down his recovery.
Speaking ahead of India’s first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Rohit said, “At the moment, it’s tough to say if he’ll be fit for this series or the Australia series. He was progressing well and getting close to full fitness, but the knee swelling, which was quite unusual, has set him back. He’s had to restart his recovery process.”
Mohammed Shami last played for India in the World Cup final last November, where he was the team’s top wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets in seven matches at an impressive average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20. He played through pain during the tournament, taking injections to manage his ankle injury.
Earlier this year, Shami underwent surgery in London and was expected to be in contention for the upcoming five-match series against Australia. However, his recent knee swelling has further delayed his recovery. While Shami is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) working with physiotherapists, captain Rohit Sharma emphasized that India doesn’t want to risk taking him to Australia unless he’s fully fit.
“Right now, he’s at the NCA working with the physios and doctors,” Rohit said. “We want him to be 100%. The last thing we want is to take an underprepared Shami to Australia—that wouldn’t be the right decision.”
Rohit also acknowledged the challenge of Shami returning to international cricket after nearly a year away from the game.
“He hasn’t played any cricket for over a year, and for a fast bowler, that’s tough,” Rohit Sharma said. “It’s hard to miss so much cricket and then immediately return to your best form. It’s not ideal. We want to give him enough time to fully recover and be 100% fit.”
Rohit added, “The physios, trainers, and doctors have mapped out a recovery plan for him. He is expected to play a few games before returning to international cricket. After the New Zealand series, we’ll assess his progress and decide when he might be ready for the Australia series.”
India has eight Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle, including a three-match series against New Zealand, followed by five Tests in Australia starting on November 22.
