In a concerning development for Team India, fast bowler Mohammed Shami‘s chances of making a quick comeback have taken a significant hit. According to reports from the Times of India, Shami has developed “swollen knees” while undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and he could be out for another six to eight weeks.
This fresh injury poses a serious threat to India’s plans for the upcoming five-Test series in Australia, which is set to commence on November 22 in Perth.
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Injury Details and Impact on Recovery
Shami has been in the NCA’s rehabilitation program since undergoing Achilles tendon surgery in February. Initially, he was expected to join the Bengal Ranji Trophy team and participate in the first-class tournament starting October 11. However, this knee injury has flared up recently, derailing those plans. A BCCI source commented on the situation: “Shami had resumed bowling, and he was looking on track to make a comeback to competitive cricket soon. But this knee injury has flared up recently. The BCCI’s medical team is assessing the injury, but it may require quite a bit of time.”
The setback is particularly disheartening given that Shami has not played since India lost the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. He was initially picked subject to fitness for India’s two-Test tour of South Africa in December 2023 but was ruled out after failing to receive medical clearance from the BCCI.
Challenges for the NCA Medical Team
The NCA medical team has been working diligently with Shami for over a year, and this recent development is seen as a significant setback. “It’s a jolt for the NCA medical team. They have one of the best workload management systems in place. The medical team is trying its best to put him back in the park soon,” added the BCCI source.
The board has been cautious with player recoveries, opting for rehabilitation over surgery whenever possible. This was evident in the cases of Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul, where the NCA aimed to get them fit through rehab before resorting to surgical options.
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