India taking cautious approach with Mohammed Shami, return delayed until New Zealand Tests

Mohammed Shami, who dazzled in World Cup 2023, has been out of action since 19 November, 2023. An Achilles heel tendon injury kept him away from the 22-yards and the pacers underwent surgery in February. Shami, who is currently in rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, was eyeing a comeback in September with the Bangladesh series. 

However, the BCCI has decided not to rush the pacer back into action. The move comes in the wake of the five-match Test series against Australia, scheduled to be held at the fag end of the year. The Indian pace battery comprising of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be bolstered further once the 33-year-old is back. 

“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 Australia tour is the ultimate goal,” a source was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

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As the Test series against Bangladesh seems potentially out of the picture, Shami would be eying resurgence in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season in October. The domestic season would provide the right-arm pacer with ample game time and can likely make a comeback when India host New Zealand in a red-ball series. If not international match fit by then, there is a likelihood that the pacer will travel with India A team to Australia for two four-day fixtures at Mackay and Melbourne, starting on October 31 and November 7, in which case he will miss the three-match New Zealand series at home.

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Jasprit Bumrah is also expected to be rested for the Bangladesh series to remain fresh for the Australia series. The pacer has not played after the T20 World Cup 2024 final triumph on June 29 as he was rested for the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka as well the upcoming Duleep Trophy season. The selectors are eyeing to bring in Arshdeep Singh or Khaleel Ahmed for the Bangla series and foster India’s left-arm seam options.