India’s Careful Consideration of Mohammed Shami’s Comeback

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has emphasised that Mohammed Shami will not be included in the squad for Australia unless his fitness is assured beyond all doubt. Rohit stated that the team would only consider him if they are “200% sure” of his readiness. The decision, he added, rests squarely with the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (formerly the NCA), which is responsible for monitoring Shami’s rehabilitation progress.

Shami, who underwent ankle surgery earlier this year, has gradually returned to domestic cricket. After missing almost a year of action, he is now preparing to compete in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal, starting December 21.

At a press conference in Brisbane following India’s drawn Test match, Rohit highlighted the need for clarity from the Centre of Excellence. 

"About Shami, I think it's high time somebody from NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing," Rohit said at the press conference in Brisbane after the third Test ended in a draw.

"Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update. I understand he's playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, look, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens."

"So, there is no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not 100%, 200% sure, we're not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open if those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we'll be happy to have him."

In recent months, Shami’s performances in domestic tournaments have drawn attention. He has participated in the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), and other fixtures for Bengal, showcasing his regained match fitness. In one Ranji Trophy match, he claimed seven wickets, and across nine SMAT games, he picked up nine wickets with an economy rate of 7.85.

Nitin Patel, the head of sports science at the Centre of Excellence, and his team have closely monitored Shami’s recovery, travelling across the country to assess his progress. However, reports of swelling in Shami’s knee during the T20 tournament raised concerns. While Bengal’s team management received no specific instructions regarding Shami’s workload, the bowler continued playing, with his most recent appearance in the SMAT quarter-final against Baroda.

Shami’s performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could provide the final indicator of his readiness. However, with time running short, it remains uncertain whether he will be available for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy or even the Champions Trophy.

India remains hopeful, but their cautious approach reflects their commitment to ensuring Shami’s long-term fitness rather than risking his health for short-term gains.