Mohammed Shami, the 34-year-old and main spinner of the Indian national cricket team, has spoken about his return to action for the national team with the big Test season coming up.
India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, are all set to play as many as 10 Test matches in the coming months, starting with a two-match series against Bangladesh at home, which will be followed by a three-match home series against New Zealand and then they will travel to Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Mohammed Shami will be a key player for India in the upcoming matches as he, along with Jasprit Bumrah, form a lethal pace bowling duo that every team fears.
Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation after undergoing surgery for an Achilles tendon injury in February 2024. Although he has started bowling in the nets, he is not expected to return anytime soon.
Mohammed Shami, last seen in action at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, will miss all the Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. And is expected to make a direct return to international cricket against Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian national cricket team is currently at the No. 1 spot on the ICC World Test Championship 2025 points table and the upcoming matches will decide whether or not the Men in Blue play their third consecutive WTC final, which will be hosted by Lord’s this time.
Until I feel 100 percent fit, I will not agree to return, regardless of the format or opposition – Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami himself has now spoken about his possible return on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata on Saturday.
Shami said he is trying his best to get back into action soon but added that he will only return when he feels he is fully fit as he does not want to risk getting injured again.
“I’m trying to get back as soon as possible because I know I’ve been out of action for a long time, but I also want to make sure I don’t have any doubts when I come back. The stronger I come back, the better it will be for me and the less chance there is of me getting injured again.
“It doesn’t matter if I come back for the Bangladesh, New Zealand or Australia series. I have already started playing but as I said, I don’t want to take any risks. Until I feel 100 per cent fit, I won’t agree to come back, irrespective of the format or the opposition. If I have to play in the country, I will,” he said, as quoted by HT.
Mohammed Shami has also expressed his desire to play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy and will reportedly play a couple of matches to prepare for his international comeback and prove his fitness for the game.
In total, Shami has played 64 Test matches for the Indian National Cricket Team and has taken 229 wickets at an average of 27.71, an economy of 3.30 and a strike rate of 50.2.
