Ace India pacer Mohammad Shami will return to competitive cricket for the first time since the 2023 ICC World Cup. He will play for Bengal in their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Madhya Pradesh, which begins in Indore on Wednesday, November 13.

Shami suffered an ankle injury and has not played cricket since the ICC World Cup 2023, where he was the highest wicket-taker. He underwent surgery for the same earlier this year in March. To recover from surgery for an Achilles tendon injury sustained during the ODI World Cup, he has been in Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy for most of the past six months.

Despite not being included in the squad for the five-test series, Shami's fitness was constantly monitored in the run-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins in Perth on November 22.  

Shami had expressed his desire to fly to Australia after playing one or two Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal just prior to the announcement of that squad.

Shami might be added to India's Test team, which currently includes Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Jasprit Bumrah as the fast bowlers if he shows that he is healthy in the forthcoming four-day match.