Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami's return to competitive cricket has been pushed back, with the upcoming Test series against Australia remaining his primary target. The 33-year-old underwent ankle surgery in February and is still working on regaining full fitness.
Mohammed Shami's journey back to full fitness began after he opted for surgery in February following an ankle injury sustained last year. This injury has kept him out of competitive cricket since the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, leaving a void in India's fast-bowling arsenal. The road to recovery has been methodical, with Shami undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
The rehabilitation process has been slow and steady, with the management keen to avoid any hasty decisions that could jeopardize Shami’s long-term fitness. As of now, Shami has resumed bowling at the NCA, a significant milestone in his recovery journey. However, his inclusion in the upcoming Bangladesh series seems improbable as he continues to regain full-match fitness.
With the Bangladesh series likely to come too soon for Shami, the Indian team management is eyeing the Ranji Trophy opener on October 11 as a potential return date. This timeline would allow Shami to get some much-needed match practice under his belt before the high-stakes Test series against New Zealand at home.
The New Zealand series presents a critical opportunity for Shami to make his comeback. The Indian team is expected to play three Tests against New Zealand, and Shami could be strategically included in the second or third Test, depending on his fitness levels. This approach not only ensures that Shami is eased back into competitive cricket but also allows the team to manage his workload effectively.
Alternatively, the Indian team management is considering sending Shami to Australia with the India A team for a series of four-day matches in October and November.
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The Indian team management is taking a cautious approach to Shami's comeback, similar to the one they adopted for Jasprit Bumrah last year. While Shami's injury is not as severe as Bumrah's, his extended absence means his workload needs to be increased gradually.
Once Shami is able to bowl regularly to batsmen in the nets, the next step will be to feature in practice matches at the NCA. "Since he hasn't played in a while, he has to be integrated smoothly into the system. With Bumrah, we had the T20s in Ireland, which allowed us to increase his workload gradually. But with Shami, we are talking about Test cricket, where he has to bowl long spells. It will be a step-by-step process and the Australia tour is the ultimate goal," sources said.
The Indian team is not overly concerned about their pace bowling options for the Bangladesh series. They are considering whether to include Bumrah, who has been rested since the T20 World Cup 2024.
Bumrah could potentially feature in one or two of the two-Test series against Bangladesh. However, with a tight schedule ahead, including three Tests against New Zealand, Bumrah is likely to be rested for some matches.
Mohammed Siraj's workload is also being monitored, and he will be rotated during the home season. Like Bumrah, Siraj is expected to be rested for a few Tests.
"We cannot rest everyone at one go because you need experience even in home conditions like in the case of England series, where India paired a senior pacer with a youngster, a similar approach would be adopted. There is a good crop of fast bowlers at the Duleep Trophy, who have been picked keeping the Australia tour in mind. If they do well, we can use them in home conditions before taking them to Australia," a BCCI official said.
The Indian team management’s careful handling of Shami’s recovery and workload underscores their commitment to having him fit and firing for what promises to be a challenging and exciting series down under.
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