India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami has announced that he is now fully recovered and pain-free. Eager to regain match fitness ahead of India’s upcoming tour of Australia, scheduled for late November, Shami is aiming to participate in one or two Ranji Trophy matches. His focus is on getting back into top form before the crucial tour, where his experience and skills will be essential to India’s chances in the challenging Australian conditions.
Mohammed Shami Expected a Comeback:
Mohammed Shami is making significant strides in his recovery from an ankle injury that sidelined him since the ODI World Cup final last year. On Sunday, following the first Test between India and New Zealand, Shami was spotted bowling at full pace at Chinnaswamy Stadium. It marked the first instance he bowled with a complete run-up since beginning his recovery, signaling his steady return to form and readiness to resume competitive cricket soon.
He said, “ It felt great yesterday because I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can’t put too much stress on my body. Yesterday, we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%. It felt great, [and] the results are good. Hopefully, I’ll be back on track soon.”
When questioned about his recovery after undergoing surgery in February, Mohammed Shami confidently stated he was “100% pain-free.” With just a month remaining to regain full fitness, Shami is focused on preparing for the first Test against Australia, scheduled to start on November 22. His goal is to be fully ready in time for this crucial match, following a long rehabilitation process.
He further said, “ The Australia series is still far away. The only thing I want to focus on is how to keep myself fit, and how strong I can be before going there. I know what kind of an attack we want for that Test series, so it’s better I spend some more time on the ground before going. If I get fit and I get a gap of eight to ten days, then it’s better I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia.
He added, “ I don’t know when I can play next, but the day I feel comfortable about bowling 20-30 overs and I get the nod from the doctors, I’ll run to play a match. I want to spend as much time as I can on the ground before going for the Australia series.”
He further said, “ I don’t want such a thing that I clear my fitness here and something happens to me there. That’s not what I want. I want to be strong while leaving from here so that there are no issues there.”
Mohammed Shami Likely to Play Ranji Trophy:
Shami, who plays domestic cricket for Bengal, may find their next Ranji Trophy fixture, starting on October 26, too soon for a return. Bengal’s upcoming matches include a November 6 clash with Karnataka in Bengaluru, followed by a November 13 game against Madhya Pradesh in Indore, marking the end of the first phase of the tournament.
Should Shami regain full match fitness next month, he could also set his sights on participating in the three-day warm-up match between India and India A in Perth, just before the first Test begins in the same city.
He faced a similar situation following the 2015 World Cup when an ankle injury kept him sidelined, causing him to miss the IPL that year as well, just like in 2024. Reflecting on his prolonged absence from cricket, Shami mentioned that injuries have taught him the valuable lesson of patience.
He further said, “ Don’t get frustrated and focus as much as you can on fitness and game. It’s very difficult to come back on track after an injury so patience is the biggest thing. Injuries teach you patience and that makes your skill purer.”
He added, “ Fitness is the main thing [you have to focus on in recovery]. You shouldn’t doubt your skill and talent when you’re away because certain things are built in you. I agree you need something like rhythm but your skill will never leave you. It’s your fitness you have to fight for.”
Mohammed Shami’s Performance in Previous Australia Tour:
Shami was instrumental in India’s historic 2018-19 Test series victory in Australia, taking 16 wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 26.18, second only to Jasprit Bumrah’s 21 wickets among the fast bowlers. His contributions were key to India’s first-ever Test series win Down Under.
However, during the 2020-21 tour, Shami played only the opening Test in Adelaide before being sidelined due to injury. Despite his absence and other key injuries, India’s depleted squad famously clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane.
He remarked that India’s pace trio, including himself, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, creates a sense of fear in opposing teams due to the combination of speed and diverse skills they bring to the field. Their varied bowling styles add a formidable edge to India’s bowling attack.
He said, “ We have worked as a unit since 2014. India never had three bowlers at a time who could bowl over 140kph. Maybe two at max. Now we even have some on the bench who can bowl 145kph. Every opponent waits for one easy kind of bowler, but that’s how you create fear that all our bowlers are 145kph and have different kind of skills.”
He added, “ And we showed how to fight when we toured overseas. Earlier we used to be on the safe side or our pace attack wasn’t that aggressive. This generation knows how to pay it back.”
India’s pace options for the five-Test series could extend beyond the established trio, with Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed in contention. These bowlers are part of the India A squad set to play two four-day matches, starting October 31 in Mackay and November 7 in Melbourne.
He commented on his potential availability for the Australia tour, expressing uncertainty about whether he will make it. He concluded, “ if there is bounce on some wickets, there’s nothing better for our pace attack. We just need some runs on the board which our bowlers can defend.”
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