Mohammad Shami picked 4 wickets for Bengal against MP in Indore in Ranji Trophy.
Mohammad Shami, the ace pacer of the Indian team, will join the rest of the squad in Australia for the BGT 2024, confirmed his childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin. Mohammad Shami recently made his cricketing return in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 after almost one year.
Shami had been out of action due to an ankle injury since the 2023 World Cup final in November. He underwent surgery in March 2024 and took time to recover and then rehab at the NCA. He was supposed to make his return during the New Zealand Test series at home.
However, he suffered a knee injury during his rehab process that delayed his return. However, Shami made an immediate impact with four wickets for Bengal in their Ranji match against Madhya Pradesh.
According to reports following his performance, the fast bowler is scheduled to be flown to Australia for the Test series. His coach has now confirmed the news, stating that he will join the team following the Adelaide second Test.
“He will be joining the Indian team after the Adelaide (second) Test. Now that he is back, proved his fitness, picked up wickets, he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” Badruddin told Indian Express.
Shami has a good record in Australia, with 31 wickets from eight matches in Australia at an average of 32.16 and an economy of 3.55.
Mohammad Shami bowled 19 overs, 4 maidens and took 4/54 for Bengal.
“I saw his bowling clips and it didn’t feel like he was bowling after one year. You can’t take the art away from the artist. He has waited very patiently for this moment,” his coach stated.
With the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy beginning on November 23 and the first-class tournament returning later, this was the final Ranji Trophy match of the first half of the Ranji season. Shami may also play for Bengal in the domestic T20 league, according to Badruddin.
“He wants to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali, but it depends on what the Indian team management wants. He was asked to prove his fitness and in his 19-over spell, he showed that he is not rusty. Shami is a rhythm bowler, the more he bowls, the better he will get. But it all depends on the guidelines he has received from the management,” the coach said.
Badruddin explains how the Indian speedster overcame his self-doubt after setbacks during rehab.
“He returned quicker after the knee surgery. This time, the rehab took more time because of the age. He did get edgy this time. Got frustrated so many times. He had targeted the New Zealand series. He developed self-doubt that I had never seen before. He was questioning his future. That’s a normal thing when you spend so much time on the sidelines,” he said.
“He (Shami) is very old school. He only wanted to return once he was 100 percent. He is not someone who hides an injury and makes a comeback carrying niggles and gets injured again. He will not return until and unless he is bowling at full tilt,” he added.
Shami's desi technique of giving himself the all-clear after receiving the National Cricket Academy's approval was described by Badruddin. To check his fitness, he hurried back to his farmhouse in Alinagar, Sahaspur.
“He runs barefoot in the mud. That’s his technique to test his fitness. That’s the amount of hard work Shami puts in,” he said.
(Indian Express inputs)