India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, recently addressed concerns about Mohammed Shami’s fitness ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Shami, who has been out of cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup, was expected to make a return to the national team.
However, Rohit confirmed that Shami is unlikely to be part of the squad travelling to Australia. The pacer has been struggling with a knee injury that caused swelling and delayed his recovery. While Shami has been working hard to regain fitness, the team management feels he is not yet ready for such a high-intensity series.
Concerns Over Shami’s Fitness
During the media interaction, Rohit highlighted the challenges Shami has faced during his rehabilitation. Despite his efforts to recover, Shami’s injury setback has slowed his progress. Rohit explained that Shami is currently working at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) with a team of physios and doctors.
However, Rohit was firm in his decision not to rush Shami back into international cricket. “We don’t want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia,” Rohit stated, noting that pushing him too soon could lead to further complications. Shami has missed several months of cricket, and fast bowlers, in particular, require careful management to avoid aggravating injuries.
Shami’s Response and Path Forward
Though Rohit suggested Shami’s chances of playing in the series are slim, the pacer has not given up hope. In a post on social media, Shami addressed rumours about his exclusion from the series, urging fans to ignore baseless speculation.
He remains determined to recover and return stronger. The roadmap laid out for Shami includes playing a few internal matches to assess his fitness before any potential return to international cricket. While the timeline remains uncertain, both the team and Shami are focused on ensuring he is 100% fit before stepping back onto the field.
As Rohit mentioned, “It is tough for a fast bowler, having missed so much cricket, to come back and be at his best immediately.” For now, Shami’s participation in the Australia series remains doubtful, but his journey to full recovery continues.
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