Indian pacer Mohammad Shami is aiming for a return to cricket after an extended injury layoff. His last appearance for the national team was during the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19 of the previous year. Since then, Shami has been sidelined due to ankle surgery in the UK, which required a recovery period of at least six months.
According to PTI, Shami is anticipated to make his return to competitive cricket with his domestic team Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. He could also be in line for a spot in one of the Test matches against New Zealand.
The report indicates that Shami is expected to feature in either or both of Bengal’s opening Ranji matches—one away against UP on October 11 and another in Kolkata against Bihar on October 18. Due to the short interval between these matches, it’s unlikely that he will participate in both.
The New Zealand Test series begins on October 19 in Bengaluru, with subsequent matches in Pune on October 24 and Mumbai on November 1. Shami is projected to participate in one of these games before preparing for the significant tour of Australia.
While Shami has been seen on Instagram doing his RTP (Return To Play) drills at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, including bowling with a reduced run-up, it was initially thought he might be ready for the Duleep Trophy. However, it has been noted that he won’t be fit in time for the Duleep Trophy, and selectors are cautious about rushing his return. The focus is on ensuring that India’s leading pacers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammad Siraj—are fully fit for the five-Test series in Australia.
Shami has accumulated 229 wickets in 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls and twelve four-wicket hauls.