Mohammed Shami Set to Make Comeback in Ranji Trophy Ahead of New Zealand and Australia Series
2024-08-23
Mohammed Shami is gearing up for a highly anticipated return to competitive cricket after a
significant hiatus. The senior Indian fast bowler, who has been sidelined due to an ankle injury
sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup, is set to make his comeback this October. Shami, currently
recuperating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, has been out of action for almost a
year following the injury.
According to recent reports, Shami will first step onto the field in domestic cricket, representing
Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. This will mark his return to competitive play after a lengthy recovery
period. The Ranji Trophy tournament is scheduled to commence on October 11, and Shami is expected to
participate in at least one of Bengal’s opening matches. Bengal’s first match will be against Uttar
Pradesh (UP) on October 11, followed by a home game in Kolkata against Bihar on October 18. Due to
the tight schedule with only a two-day gap between these fixtures, it is likely that Shami will only
play in one of these matches.
Following his return to domestic cricket, Shami will rejoin the Indian team for the upcoming Test
series against New Zealand. The three-match series is set to begin on October 19 in Bengaluru, with
subsequent Tests scheduled in Pune on October 24 and Mumbai on November 1. Shami's participation in
the series is crucial as he will also play a significant role in India’s tour of Australia later in
the year.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had previously suggested that Shami might feature in the Bangladesh
Test series, but uncertainty about his return date and his exclusion from the Duleep Trophy squads
had cast doubt on his immediate comeback. However, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has reassured fans and
the cricketing community about Shami’s return. In a recent statement to the Times of India, Shah
confirmed that Shami would indeed be included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in
Australia, which starts in December.
Shah emphasized the importance of Shami’s experience for the upcoming series in Australia, stating,
"Our team is already well prepared. We have rested Jasprit Bumrah for a while now. Mohammad Shami is
expected to be fit too. This is an experienced Indian side now. Seniors like Rohit and Kohli are
fit." He further added, "Shami will be there because he is experienced, and we need him in
Australia." This assurance from Shah underlines the BCCI’s confidence in Shami’s recovery and his
vital role in India’s plans for the challenging series in Australia.
Shami’s return is highly anticipated as he has been a key player for India in past international
matches. His experience and skill are expected to bolster India’s pace attack significantly. With
Shami’s involvement, India will hope to strengthen their squad and maintain a competitive edge in
the forthcoming international fixtures.