India captain Rohit Sharma has expressed concerns regarding the availability of pace spearhead Mohammed Shami for the upcoming five-Test series against Australia, starting November 24.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of India’s first Test against New Zealand, Rohit highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Shami’s recovery from injury, potentially ruling him out of the crucial series.
Shami, who has been recovering from a long-standing ankle injury that kept him out of the 2024 IPL and the T20 World Cup, has encountered another obstacle in his comeback. The experienced fast bowler is now dealing with swelling in his right knee, which has delayed his recovery.
“To be honest, it is difficult to make a call on him for the Australia series,” Rohit stated. “He had a setback and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit and he had to start again. He’s at the NCA [National Cricket Academy] with doctors and physios. We don’t want to bring an undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed.”
Shami’s absence would be a significant blow for India as they prepare for the highly anticipated series Down Under. Known for his ability to extract movement and bounce, particularly in Australian conditions, Shami’s experience could have been pivotal for India’s pace attack.
Ongoing Recovery Process
According to a BCCI source, Shami had made substantial progress in his rehabilitation and had resumed bowling. However, the recent knee flare-up has become a serious concern for India’s medical staff.
“Shami had resumed bowling and was on track to return soon, but the knee injury has flared up recently. The BCCI medical team is assessing the extent of the damage, but this could delay his return by a few months,” the source revealed.
Shami was initially expected to make a tentative return during the ongoing series against New Zealand, offering him valuable match practice ahead of the Australia tour. However, his availability for the series now appears doubtful, with the only chance for him to feature in the Australia series potentially being the lone warm-up match before the Test series kicks off.
India’s Pace Options for Australia
With the tour set to begin at the fast and bouncy WACA Ground in Perth, India will need to field a robust pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are likely to lead the charge, but Shami’s absence could leave a gap in the team’s pace arsenal. Emerging pacers Akash Deep, Yash Dayal, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar could all be in contention to fill the void if Shami is unable to recover in time.
Managing their resources will be crucial for India, especially as Bumrah and Siraj will need to stay injury-free over the demanding five-Test series. Shami’s absence may put additional pressure on India’s pace battery, and the team will need to rely on the depth of their fast-bowling options.
The upcoming Australia tour marks the first five-Test series between the two nations in 30 years, making it a historic and demanding contest. Shami’s proven ability to perform in challenging overseas conditions could have been vital for India’s success. Without him, India will need other bowlers to step up, and the team management will have to carefully monitor workloads to avoid further injuries.
As the BCCI medical team continues to assess Shami’s fitness, the clock is ticking for the fast bowler to regain full health and rejoin the squad. For now, India must brace for a possible Shami-less campaign, hoping that their emerging pacers can rise to the challenge Down Under.
