Mohammed Shami, India’s premier fast bowler, is poised to make a long-awaited return to competitive cricket after nearly a year of absence. The Bengal pacer has been named in his state team’s squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy fixture against Madhya Pradesh, scheduled to commence on November 13 in Indore.
Shami’s inclusion in the Bengal squad marks a significant milestone in his recovery from a series of injuries that have kept him sidelined since the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad last year. His fitness has been under close scrutiny in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on November 22 in Perth.
Prior to the Test squad announcement, Shami expressed his desire to play one or two Ranji Trophy games for Bengal before joining the Indian team in Australia. However, with the Ranji Trophy season split into two and only one round remaining before the white-ball tournaments, he will have the opportunity to prove his fitness in just one red-ball game.
Shami’s injury woes began with an ankle injury that required surgery on his right foot in March. He subsequently spent several months at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, rehabilitating from both the ankle injury and an Achilles tendon injury that he played through during the ODI World Cup.
If Shami demonstrates his fitness in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match, he could potentially be added to India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The current squad includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana as the frontline fast bowlers, with Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed in the reserves.
Shami’s return to action is a welcome boost for India, who have been without their premier fast bowler for an extended period. His experience and wicket-taking ability will be invaluable in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
