Mohammad Shami, the ace Indian pacer, made his much-awaited return to competitive cricket in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. The match is being played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
This is the first time Shami has played proper cricket since the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad in November. After that, he was diagnosed with an ankle injury and he had to undergo surgery for the same earlier this year.
He missed the South Africa tour, the home Test series against England, the IPL 2024, and the T20 World Cup 2024, along with the home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
He was supposed to make his return in the New Zealand Test series, but he suffered a knee ailment while rehabbing in the NCA and his return was delayed.
Mohammad Shami bowled four spells and totaled 19 overs, taking 4/54 with 4 maidens. His victims included MP skipper Shubham Sharma, all-rounder Saransh Jain, and two tail-enders, with three of the four batters being bowled while one edged to keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
And now as per PTI report, after the match, which is being played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, the national selection committee will also consider how his body holds up in the second innings and whether there is any pain or swelling.
He will almost certainly team up with vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah prior to the second Test, which will take place day and night if he checks all the criteria.
The Ranji Trophy tournament’s first stage concludes on November 16. He may join the team before the first Test, which starts in Perth on November 22, but that could be asking for too much.
If Shami goes to Australia, he will get to play the two-day day/night practice game against Prime Minister's XI.
However, the BCCI selectors, team management, and BCCI's Sports Science & Medical Team want to check how his body holds up.
It is believed that even though India has an 18-man roster for the Australia tour, Shami would be included by the team management and the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee as soon as Dr. Nitin Patel, the BCCI's head of the Medical and Sports Science division, deems him fit.
According to a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) source who spoke to PTI, Ajay Ratra, a member of the national selection committee, had come especially with Patel, the head of the NCA medical team, to watch Shami bowl.
Their input will be forwarded to head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, who will make a final decision.
"Obviously, Shami was asked to play this game keeping in mind that the next round of Ranji Trophy will only start on January 23 after the Test season is over.
So, the selectors had only one match to check his fitness. He has bowled 19 overs in multiple spells and fielded for most part of the 57 overs. He bowled 90 dot balls. But he will again have to bowl and field (in the second innings). Suppose he bowls another 15 to 18 overs in the second innings, that's a very decent number of overs bowled.
But the biggest test would be whether he again feels any pain after four days. If the NCA medical team green-lights his fitness, obviously he will join before the second Test, " the source told PTI.
The BGT begins on November 22 with the first Test between Australia and India at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
