‘Think it’s high time somebody from NCA talked about him’ - Rohit Sharma talks of Mohammed Shami’s comeback possibility

Three Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 have concluded. With India winning the first Test in Perth, and Australia registering a win in the second Test in Adelaide, the third Test in Brisbane resulted in a draw. With three matches, it is evident that the Indian team is missing the services of ace pacer Mohammed Shami. 

Shami has been out of contention for selection ever since the ODI World Cup 2023 final but has recently made his return to domestic cricket and seems to be in brilliant form. However, the pacer is yet to get clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE, previously National Cricket Academy), Bengaluru, for participation in international matches.

However, reports have emerged that stated Shami would be joining the Indian team in Australia for the Boxing day Test match, but there has been no clarity over the same. Talking about the same, India skipper Rohit Sharma took centre stage and talked about Shami’s potential participation. 

“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That’s our national cricket academy where he is rehabilitating. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update," Rohit Sharma told the press at the Gabba.

“But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. The last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens," he added.

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There’s no way we want to take that chance: Rohit Sharma

Furthermore, Rohit Sharma talked about how the Indian team does not want to take any chances unless they are completely sure about Shami’s fitness, and that depends on the NCA’s clearance. 

“There’s no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not a hundred per cent, 200 hundred per cent sure. We’re not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he’s okay to go and recover and play, I will be happy to have him," Rohit said further.