Win Projections to be updated soon
The selectors have been informed about Shami’s progress, and a decision on whether he should participate in at least one of the Duleep Trophy matches, beginning on September 5 in Anantapur, will be made soon to assess his fitness.
Currently, Shami is in the final stages of his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He recently resumed bowling for the first time since his surgery and has been gradually increasing his bowling workload without experiencing any pain.
Prior to India’s tour of Sri Lanka in July, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Shami had started bowling again and that the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai was the target for his comeback.
“We more or less know who the players are, but there are some injuries at the moment, and we hope they will recover soon,” Agarkar stated. “Shami has resumed bowling, which is a positive sign. The goal was always the first Test on September 19. I am not sure if that is his exact recovery timeline, so we will need to check with the NCA team.”
“There are numerous Test matches ahead, so we will need depth in our bowling. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been in contention for a while, but there will be discussions about it. With a lot of first-class cricket coming up, we can prepare players accordingly.”
Shami expressed his desire to play for Bengal before rejoining the national team during a visit to Kolkata last month. He also participated informally in motivational and fitness sessions with state players.
The ankle injury, which surfaced after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was initially thought to be minor. Shami was initially included in India’s Test squad for the series in South Africa but was later withdrawn due to fitness concerns.
After experiencing continuous swelling in his right ankle, Shami underwent surgery and missed the home Tests against England and the IPL 2024 season for Gujarat Titans.
Shami played a vital role in India’s journey to the ODI World Cup final, taking 24 wickets in seven matches at an impressive average and strike rate.
