India’s seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami is facing ongoing fitness issues, which may delay his return to competitive cricket. Test captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that Shami has been dealing with swelling in his knees, raising doubts about his availability for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, which begins on November 22.
Rohit provided an update on Shami’s condition, noting that the fast bowler experienced a setback during his recovery, which required him to restart his rehabilitation process. “To be honest, it is difficult to make a call on him for the Australia series. He had a setback and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit, and he had to start again,” Rohit explained.
Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), working closely with doctors, physios, and trainers. Rohit emphasized that the team does not want to rush Shami back into action unless he is fully fit. “We are keeping our fingers crossed. We want him to be 100 percent fit. We don’t want to bring an undercooked Shami to Australia; that is not going to be the right decision for us.”
Given the physical demands of fast bowling, Rohit highlighted the difficulty of returning to top form after a significant break from competitive cricket. Shami, who has played 64 Tests for India and taken 229 wickets at an average of 27.71, is expected to participate in a couple of practice matches before being considered for international duty.
India’s tour of Australia is crucial, and Mohd Shami absence would be a significant blow to the team. However, the management is prioritizing his long-term fitness, ensuring that he only returns when fully recovered.
