IPL 2021: Mohammed Shami up and running, set to return for Punjab Kings

Mohammed Shami, the Indian fast bowler, is all set to make his comeback in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The speedster hasn’t played any form of cricket in the last three months after getting injured during the tour of Australia. In the Day-Night Adelaide Test, the 30-year-old sustained an arm injury after being hit by a delivery from speedster Pat Cummins.

He was thereafter forced to return home and he couldn’t take part in the home series against England as well. The right-armer has been out of cricket since December 19, 2020, and has been working hard at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to regain the desired fitness.

“He should be returning to action. He has been bowling for a week or so,” a source was quoted as saying in News18.

Anil Kumble excited for Mohammed Shami’s return

Since he hasn’t been a part of the bio-secure bubble, he has to undergo a seven-day quarantine period before he steps on the field. Anil Kumble, the head coach of Punjab Kings, also sounded excited to have Shami back in the scheme of things.

“He is fine as far as I know. He is coming to the bio-bubble for the quarantine and he will be out in a few days. I know he hasn’t played any matches since his injury but he is good to go. We are really looking forward to him playing a few practice games and then getting ready for the first game,” Kumble told Sportstar.

Kumble also talked about how the Punjab franchise went about proceedings in the auction, which took place in February at Chennai.

“I think in the smaller auctions, people tend to forget that the options are minimal. Every team wants to reinforce and fill the gaps and since the options are lesser, you tend to spend a lot more on the players.

“We wanted to have a squad which gives us options in case we want to rotate a few of our fast bowlers. Even our young Indian pacers are exciting. It is a fairly long tournament and the conditions will be pretty hot,” he added.

Punjab’s first game in IPL 2021 is against Rajasthan Royals on April 12 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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