Mohammad Shami, the Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer, will miss the upcoming IPL 2024 edition. Reports have suggested that Shami’s left ankle injury is serious enough for him to miss the tournament and might also have to undergo surgery to rectify the issue.

Mohammad Shami, who was the highest wicket-taker for India in the ICC World Cup 2023, with 24 scalps to his name, has been out of action since the tournament. He has since missed the home T20I series against Australia, the South Africa tour, the Afghanistan T20I series at home, and the ongoing five-Test series against England.

Reportedly, Shami had recently visited London to consult a specialist who advised him to take injections in the ankle and then begin light training and running.

"Shami was in London in last week of January to take special ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he could start light running and take it from thereon. But the injection hasn't worked and now the only option left is surgery. He will shortly leave for the UK for surgery. IPL seems out of the question," a senior BCCI source told PTI.

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The development raises a question mark about the injury rehabilitation management program planned by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for Shami. People in the know of things believe that the NCA's conservative line of thinking has not worked in Shami's case.

"Shami should have gone directly for surgery and that should have been NCA's call. Just two months of rest and injections wouldn't have worked well and that's what has happened. He is an asset and the Indian team would need him in Australia," the source said. 

(PTI inputs)