Mohammed Shami's return to cricket: Here's the latest update
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami is en route to a potential comeback during the impending Test series against New Zealand at home. As per an Indian Express report, Shami could feature in the home series. The 33-year-old seamer has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery in February. Despite his steady recovery, his participation in the upcoming Bangladesh series remains uncertain as he continues to work on regaining his fitness.
Shami's training progress and future plans
Shami recently resumed bowling at the National Cricket Academy, which initiated debates of his comeback during the Duleep Trophy. However, he was not in the squads due to his ongoing recovery. "Since he hasn't played in a while, he has to be integrated smoothly into the system. With Jasprit Bumrah, we had the T20s in Ireland, which allowed us to increase his workload gradually. But with Shami, we are talking about Test cricket," sources informed the Indian Express.
Recovery from ankle injury and surgery
Shami has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which required surgical intervention. He has been undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru ever since. The injury resulted in him missing the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) with Gujarat Titans and the ICC T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA, where India supreme after defeating South Africa.
Shami's rehabilitation and potential Ranji Trophy participation
Shami's rehabilitation program is progressing well, with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirming that the fast bowler is expected to be fit for the Border-Gavaskar series. The cricketer is also aiming to participate in the Ranji Trophy opener on October 11. This could pave his way for a return during the second or third Test against New Zealand, following the Bangladesh series.
Shami's exploits in WC 2023
To recall, Shami replaced the injured Hardik Pandya in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The former finished as the highest wicket-taker (24) and broke a flurry of records in just seven matches. Shami claimed three five-wicket hauls and a solitary four-fer, including a career-best 7/57 in the semi-final against New Zealand. His average in the tournament read a jaw-dropping 10.70.
