India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, stated that the team does not want to take any risks with the experienced pacer, Mohammad Shami.
After recovering from injury, Shami has played several matches, raising discussions about his inclusion in the squad for the Australia tour. Rohit confirmed that the door remains open for the seasoned pacer but emphasized that the team wants to ensure his full fitness before making any decisions.
It has been over a year since Shami last played for India, with his most recent match being the 2023 World Cup final on November 19. Since then, he has not represented the country.
Shami hoped to return to international cricket during the Bangladesh series in September-October after undergoing ankle surgery, but he did not show the desired progress. On top of that, he also developed knee issues. He was closely monitored for the Australia tour but did not make the cut. Shami eventually made his comeback in mid-November with a Ranji Trophy match, where he took seven wickets for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh.
In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, Shami has played seven matches for Bengal, taking four wickets in his first two matches and another four in his last two, though he went wicketless in the three matches in between.
The debate around Shami’s inclusion in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been ongoing, especially after India’s 10-wicket defeat to Australia in Adelaide. During the post-match press conference, Rohit spoke about Shami’s knee swelling, noting that the team does not want to rush him back into action.
“We are monitoring him because he showed some swelling in his knee during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, which could affect his preparation for Test matches. We want to be very cautious and not bring him here (to Australia) if there’s any chance of him injuring himself or something going wrong,” said Rohit.
“We want to be 100% sure about his fitness. This return has been a long journey. We don’t want to add pressure on him by expecting him to play for the team here. Professionals are observing him, and decisions will be made based on their assessments. They are tracking his physical condition after each match, checking how he feels after bowling four overs, 20 overs, and so on. But the door to play is always open for him.”
The India-Australia five-Test series is currently tied 1-1 after two matches, with the third Test set to begin in Brisbane next Saturday.
