Mohammad Shami has been out of action since ICC World Cup 2023.
India pacer Mohammad Shami has made considerable strides in his recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him away from action since the ICC World Cup in November 2023. Shami had finished the World Cup with the most wickets-24, including a best of 7/57 in the semi-final against New Zealand.
Mohammad Shami is currently in his final stages of rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Last month, he resumed bowling for the first time since his surgery and is understood to have slowly built up his bowling workload after being pain-free.
The expectation is that he will be ready for India's home season, which begins with a Test series against Bangladesh in September.
The selectors have been informed of Shami's progress, and a decision on whether he should play at least one of the Duleep Trophy matches, which begin on September 5 in Anantapur, to demonstrate his fitness will be made shortly.
Ahead of India's tour to Sri Lanka in July, chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed Mohammad Shami had "started to bowl" and that the first Test against Bangladesh, which begins on September 19 in Chennai, "was always the goal" for his return.
"Shami has started to bowl which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don't know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that. There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that,” Agarkar was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Late last month in Kolkata, Shami stated a desire to play for Bengal before returning to the national squad, and he participated in a few motivational and conditioning sessions for state players.
Even if Shami misses some or all of India's home Tests - two against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand - he still has ample time to improve his bowling rhythm for the trip to Australia, which begins shortly after the third Test against New Zealand ends on November 5.
BCCI’s decision to split the Ranji Trophy into two halves will give Mohammad Shami plenty of opportunities to get into shape. India's A team will also play two first-class games in Australia from October 31, giving Shami further opportunity.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)