The Boxing day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is right around the corner. The teams are set to give their best at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which is level with both teams winning one Test match each. In such a situation, star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami’s much anticipated arrival would have set the tone of the match and provided the Indian team with much-needed additional strength in the bowling line-up. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently provided an update on Shami’s current injury situation.
Mohammed Shami deemed unfit for the remaining two Tests
In a major setback to the Indian bowling effort, Shami has been deemed medically unfit for the remaining two Tests of the ongoing series against Australia. An official Media Advisory from Devajit Saikia, the Honorary Joint Secretary of BCCI read, “Shami bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November. Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches.
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“However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period. Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” the advisory read further.
Shami developed a swelling in the left knee ahead of his anticipated return in the Indian squad during the Test series against New Zealand. The Indian pacer picked up an ankle injury earlier which required a surgery after the final of the ODI World Cup finals against Australia in November 2023. Shami has been on rehabilitation at the National cricket Academy (NCA) ever since. The 34-year-old has been named in the Bengal squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, however, his availability for his domestic side will depend on the condition of his knee.
A masterclass for Bengal raised hopes for Shami’s return to the Indian team
Shami had an impeccable record at the SMAT 2024 for his domestic side Bengal in which he bowled 35 overs and took 11 wickets. He played a major role in his team’s journey to the quarter-finals of the prestigious domestic tournament. Earlier, the Indian pacer announced his return to competitive cricket after a major knee injury with an incredible seven-wicket haul in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. Shami’s ferocious record in the domestic season was a major reason why fans and analysts believed his return to the national squad would add value to the Indian squad in their quest to outperform Aussies, but, it seems that fate has decided otherwise for the pacer.