The Indian cricket team may have to wait until their premier quick bowler Mohammed Shami arrives back from an ankle injury but he has expressed that he wants to play domestic cricket for Bengal first and then return to playing internationally. The 33-year-old underwent surgery earlier in the year, and is now back at the NCA, Bengaluru resuming his deliveries.
Shami’s last appearance for India was in the disappointing ODI World Cup final loss to Australia last November. While being honored by the East Bengal Club in Kolkata, Shami discussed his comeback, stating:
“It’s difficult to say when I will be back. I am trying hard but hopefully you will get to see me in Bengal colors before I don the India jersey again. I will come to play two-three matches for Bengal and will come fully prepared for it.”
“We never thought the injury would be this serious. The plan was to address it after the T20 World Cup since we had the IPL and the ICC T20 mega event coming almost back-to-back after last year’s World Cup.”
“But it turned worse during the ODI World Cup itself and I also did not find it right to risk playing on with it. Even the doctors could not fathom that the injury will take such a serious turn and will take so much time to heal,” he added.
In the case of Shami, the last time he was seen, he had a phenomenal World Cup in the 2023 ODI where he took 24 wickets in 7 appearances which saw him being the highest wicket-taker of the series. Nevertheless, due to his injury, he could not play for IPL 2024 and the following T20 World Cup.
“For a moment, memories of our defeat in the 2023 World Cup final resurfaced to trouble me”- Mohammed Shami
Inquiring about it, he confessed in the excitement of the 2024 T20 World Cup finale held against South Africa that he has been living with regrets since losing in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Going into the last five overs of the match, with only thirty runs needed by South Africa for victory in the T20 final match, it looked like another defeat was on cards for Indian side but Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh turned everything around as they helped India win by seven runs and retained its championship title.
“To tell you frankly, I got tense when South Africa were pulling things back in the final. For a moment memories of our 2023 World Cup final loss returned to haunt me. But luckily Suryakumar Yadav took that great catch to fetch us the cup and it took time to sink in that India have actually won it,” said Shami.
It was India’s second T20 World Cup title and their first ICC event victory since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
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