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Shami last played a Test match for India in June 2023 against Australia during the WTC final, which was played at The Oval in London.
Rohit Sharma provides a big update on Shami’s chances of playing in BGT.(Picture Credit: PTI, Screengrab)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday (December 8) provided a big update about Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in India’s squad for the remaining three Tests of the ongoing five-match series against Australia. There are calls for Shami’s inclusion in India’s Test squad after Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj produced a forgettable show in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost by 10 wickets inside three days on Sunday.
While speaking to reporters during the post-match press conference in Adelaide, Rohit said that the door is very much open for Shami to come and play in Australia.
However, he also issued a worrying update about the star pacer by adding that the right-arm fast bowler got some swelling on his knees while playing for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“Definitely, the door is very much open. But we’re just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mustaq Ali (Trophy), he again got some swelling in his knee, which obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match,” Rohit said when asked about Shami’s chances of playing in the ongoing Test series.
“We want to be very, very careful. We don’t want to bring him (Shami) here in a situation where he plays and then he pulls up sore or something happens. We want to be more than 100 percent sure with him because it’s been such a long time since he’s played cricket. And to be fair to him, we don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team.”
Shami last played a Test match for India in June 2023 against Australia. He was rested for the two-match Test series against the West Indies in July last year, and then, due to fitness-related issues, Shami was not available for selection in the South Africa, England, Bangladesh, and New Zealand series.
According to Rohit, BCCI’s medical team is monitoring Shami, and the team management will take a call on Shami’s inclusion after consulting with them.
“There are some professionals who are monitoring him. They (BCCI’s medical team) are there with him, and we will take the call based on what those guys feel there. Because they are the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game, after bowling four overs, standing for 20 overs. So, we just have to be very, very careful. But again, like I said, that door is very much open for him to come and play anytime.”
