Mohammed Shami could be flown to Australia as early as next week after the India pacer made a stunning return to competitive cricket with a four-wicket haul for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. More than the wickets, what brought a big relief to the Indian team management was how Shami went about his business. Making a comeback to cricket for the first time since the ODI World Cup final last year, Shami went wicketless on Day 2 in his 10 overs but on the third day, he got rewards for his immaculate consistency.
Shami bowled four spells in Madhya Pradesh’s first innings and returned with figures of 19-4-54-4. His victims included MP skipper Shubham Sharma, all-rounder Saransh Jain and two tail-enders, with three of the four batters being bowled while one edged to keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
In the video uploaded by BCCI on X, Shami seemed to be in good rhythm, troubling the batters with his seam movement.
While this is great news for the Indian team, news agency PTI reported that the national selection committee will look at how his body holds up in the second innings as well and whether there is any swelling or pain at the end of the contest.
If he ticks all the boxes, it is almost assured that he will join forces with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah before the second Test, which will be a day/night affair.
BCCI puts two conditions, Ratra and Nitin Patel’s feedback key
Ajay Ratra, a member of the selection committee, and Nitin Patel, head of the NCA Medical Team, could play crucial roles here. Ratra had specifically come along with NCA medical team head Patel to watch Shami bowl. Their feedback will be sent to the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir before a final call is taken.
“Obviously, Shami was asked to play this game keeping in mind that the next round of Ranji Trophy will only start on January 23 after the Test season is over,” a BCCI sourced told PTI.
“So, the selectors had only one match to check his fitness. He has bowled 19 overs in multiple spells and fielded for most part of the 57 overs. He bowled 90 dot balls. But he will again have to bowl and field (in the second innings). Suppose he bowls another 15 to 18 overs in the second innings, that’s a very decent amount of overs bowled.
“But the biggest test would be whether he again feels any pain after four days. If the NCA medical team green-lights his fitness, obviously he will join before the second Test,” the BCCI source added.
The Ranji Trophy match ends on November 16 and he could join the squad before the first Test, beginning in Perth on November 22, but that could be cutting it too fine.
In case Shami goes, he will get to play a two-day day/night practice game against Prime Minister’s XI.
More than the wickets he took on Thursday, the team management and national selection committee along with the BCCI’s Sports Science & Medical Team want to check how his body holds up.
Shami, who has not played a competitive game after the ODI World Cup final on November 19 last year, had undergone an ankle surgery. Just when he was about to return for the three-Test series against New Zealand, the senior fast bowler developed a swelling in his knee delaying his comeback.
It is understood that despite naming an 18-member squad for Australia, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the team management would include Shami the moment the BCCI’s head of Medical and Sports Science team, Dr Nitin Patel, declares him fit.
