Indian star pacer Mohammed Shami has not played the game since 2023 World Cup, where he picked up an ankle injury and has been ruled out for more than nine months now. The star performer of the World Cup, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker, single-handedly destroying New Zealand with a sensational seven-wicket haul in the semi-final, those figures being the best by an Indian pacer in World Cup history. His absence was badly felt by the Indian team, and fans have been eagerly looking forward to his return to the cricketing arena.
Now, after months of rehabilitation, there are encouraging signs that Shami might actually be building up for a comeback as early as September. According to ESPNcricinfo reports, Shami could have to prove his match fitness by playing in the Duleep Trophy before he is thrown back into the fray at the international level.
The comeback timing cannot be more crucial, with India set to play a Test series in September against Bangladesh, where Shami’s services are believed to be valuable. The 33-year-old fast bowler is in the final stages of his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. His rehabilitation has been going good, and the updates from the NCA have been positive and optimistic, which have been reconfirmed by Ajit Agarkar, the chief of the All India Men’s Senior Selection Committee.
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In an interaction ahead of the tour to Sri Lanka, Agarkar gave an optimistic outlook on Shami’s recovery. “We more or less know who the guys are. There are some niggles at the moment, and we hope they get back up. Shami has started bowling, so that is a good sign. The first Test is on September 19, and that was always the goal.”. “I don’t know if that is his timeline for recovery; we’ll have to ask the guys at the NCA about that,” Ajit Agarkar emphasized the need to have Shami back in the scheme of things.
Shami who is currently in the final stages of recovery at NCA Bengluru, is expected to be fit by Sep 19-ist test vs Ban
The desicion whether to play him at least 1 Duleep Trophy match Starting on 5 Sep will be taken later
(ESPNCRICINFO)#CricketTwitter #MohdShami#indiancricket pic.twitter.com/hk3qVFLmh2— Cricket-World (@GuessWh98609542) August 9, 2024
He also said that some depth in the bowling department will be the need of the hour, of course keeping in mind a busy Test calendar ahead. “So many Tests coming; we will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, as mentioned above, all have been playing first-class cricket for a while. But there will be some conversation around. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up, so we can build guys up like that,” he added, underscoring the significance of nurturing fast-bowling talent for the future.
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Shami has also expressed his desire to play first-class cricket for his home state of Bengal before making a full-fledged international return. In which case, if he does come back as expected for the Bangladesh series that follows in the new year, and the New Zealand Tests at home, and then the much-vaunted and prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy series Down Under, it is almost an impossibility that Shami’s international commitments will give him enough space to turn out for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. It will be important for the Indian squad when they try to battle the rough waters coming their way in the Test calendar of the season since the potential return will be a massive boost considering experience and skill.
