“Former Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri Has His Fingers Crossed As He Waits for the Return of this ‘Genuine Matchwinner’

Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, has expressed his anticipation for the return of pacer Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from an ankle injury. Despite being sidelined since the ODI World Cup, Shami’s potential comeback is seen as crucial for India's upcoming series against New Zealand and the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Shastri’s Praise for Shami

Shastri highlighted Shami's unique bowling style, stating, "Very few have a seam presentation like him in world cricket and he has bowled over a long period of time." He emphasized that Shami’s experience and skill would be invaluable, especially on tracks conducive to reverse swing. 

"Let's hope from India's point of view that he is back to full fitness because he still has a role to play," Shastri remarked during commentary on Day 5 of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh. "We saw how good he was in the World Cup; he bowled quite magnificently albeit with the white ball. When it reverses, on a track like this he would have been ideal."

Importance of Upcoming Matches

As India prepares for a rigorous Test season that includes three against New Zealand and five against Australia, Shami's return could significantly bolster the team's fast-bowling lineup. With India also gearing up for a challenging five-Test series against Australia, managing the workload of fast bowlers will be essential. 

Shastri believes that if Shami can participate in at least two out of three Tests against New Zealand, it would solidify his position for the Australian tour. “He has played a lot of cricket; he knows these conditions. And he's a skidder, at you all the time. A genuine wicket-taker.”, he noted. 

Dinesh Karthik, former Indian wicketkeeper and current commentator, echoed Shastri's sentiments about Shami's significance to the team. He stated, "Mohammed Shami… what a record he has. Spearhead of the attack along with Jasprit Bumrah. And you can see why; the numbers talk for themselves."

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Shami's Injury and Recovery Journey

Mohammed Shami has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Initially thought to be a minor issue, the injury required surgery in February 2024, which ruled him out of the IPL and subsequent international fixtures. Since then, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he has recently resumed bowling and is gradually increasing his workload.

Shami himself has been cautious about rushing his return. He said, "I don't want to rush and risk getting injured again... What matters most is that I am fully ready for whatever comes next." His focus on fitness indicates a strategic approach to ensure he is at peak performance when he returns to international cricket.

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