Indian off-spinner Mohammed Shami has given a positive update on his fitness as he continues to work hard towards making his long-awaited return to competitive cricket.
The right-handed bowler has not played a competitive match since November last year. His last appearance was the ODI World Cup final. Immediately after the competition ended, he was sidelined with an ankle injury. He also suffered the injury during the World Cup but took injections to relieve the pain.
He was initially expected to recover in one or two months after a period of rest. However, the injury was more serious than expected and he had to undergo surgery on his right Achilles tendon in London in February this year. He has been sidelined ever since.
While the Indian team management or the selectors are yet to provide any update on Mohammed Shami’s fitness, the bowler himself has given a very positive update. On Tuesday (July 23), he took to Instagram to post a few pictures of himself bowling on the nets. The player is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
“Ball in hand and obsession in heart, ready to change the game,” Shami wrote in the caption.
Mohammed Shami to return to action soon:
Having started bowling in the nets, Mohammed Shami is likely to return to competitive cricket soon. After the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, India is scheduled to play a Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home before leaving for Australia for a five-match Test series.
A recent report stated that though Shami was expected to make his much-awaited comeback during the series against Bangladesh, he is unlikely to do so. Shami is likely to return to international cricket during the Test series against New Zealand in October-November. An in-form Shami is also more than likely to be part of India’s squad for the tour of Australia.
Before the injury, Shami had enjoyed a brilliant ODI World Cup campaign. He had finished the competition as the highest wicket-taker despite not having played the first four matches. In 7 matches, Shami picked up a record 24 wickets with the help of 3 five-wicket hauls.
