IND vs SA: Mohammed Shami tests Covid-19 negative

Mohammed Shami is likely to be back in contention against South Africa in the upcoming T20I series after returning a negative Covid-19 test. The pacer, who was has been named in the T20 World Cup 2022 side as a standby, was included in the squads for T20Is against Australia and South Africa. However, he tested Covid positive ahead of the start of the Australia series and was to be sidelined, with Umesh Yadav coming in as his replacement.  

Shami was quite delighted after testing negative and he announced it on Instagram by posting his report in a story. Notably, Shami has not played a T20I since the T20 World Cup 2021. However, his experience and skillset is tough to look past and therefore he has been given the nod straightaway for the ICC event. It will be interesting to see if he makes it to the playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa which starts on September 28 (Wednesday). 

Here's Mohammed Shami's Instagram Story 

Shami’s recovery will be a huge boost for the Indian side in terms of the pace department as they have lacked potency in recent times. The youngsters have gone for runs in pressure situations and it was evident in the Asia Cup 2022, when India lacked experience in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.  

Shami was the leading wicket-taker for Gujarat Titans in their title-winning campaign this year in IPL 2022. He still can bowl the yorkers in death overs, and not many bowlers have made the ball talk like he has in the last few years. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested for the upcoming South Africa series and this will be the perfect opportunity for Shami to get back into his groove before the ICC event in Australia next month.