Indian captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday (December 8) dropped a big hint about Mohammed Shami’s likely inclusion in India S 13 for the remaining three Tests of the ongoing five-match series against Australia. Following an unimpressive second Test showing by Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj where India lost the match by 10 wickets within a period of three days on Sunday, there have been calls for Shami to be reinstated for the current Test series.
Speaking to reporters in the post-match media conference at Adelaide, Rohit said that there was still a chance for Shami to come to Australia and play.
But he also gave a worrying update regarding the famous pacer as he said, “The right-arm fast bowler got some knee swelling while playing for Bengal in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.”
“Definitely, the door is very much open. But we’re just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mustaq Ali (Trophy), he again got some swelling in his knee, which obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match,” Rohit told the reporters who asked about the chances of Shami being included in the ongoing Test series.
“We want to be very, very careful. We don’t want to bring him (Shami) here in a situation where he plays and then pulls up sore or something happens. We want to be more than 100 percent sure with him because it’s been such a long time since he’s played cricket. And to be fair to him, we don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team.”
Shami last took the field in a Test match representing India against Australia in June 2023. He was then withdrawn from the two-Test series against the West Indies in July last year, following which fitness-related issues kept him from selection for the South Africa, England, Bangladesh, and New Zealand series.
According to skipper Rohit Sharma, Shami was under BCCI’s medical supervision, and the team management would make a call on his inclusion after they consulted with those professionals.
“He’s been monitored by professionals. Those are the BCCI medicals and they are there with him, and we will take the call based on what those guys feel there. Because they are the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game, after bowling four overs, standing for 20 overs. So, we just have to be very, very careful. But again, like I said, that door is very much open for him to come and play anytime.”
