Senior Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami is poised to make his much-anticipated return to the field after nearly 11 months on the sidelines. The 33-year-old is set to rejoin competitive cricket in this year’s Ranji Trophy, where he is expected to represent Bengal in his first match since his injury.
Shami’s last appearance came during the ODI World Cup last year, after which he suffered an ankle injury that necessitated surgery earlier this year. Since then, he has been out of action.
In line with the BCCI's new regulations, which require all players to participate in domestic cricket to prove their form and fitness, Shami will need to perform in the Ranji Trophy to be considered for selection in the Indian team. His return will be crucial for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand, as reported by Indian Express.
India’s upcoming international fixtures include a two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting September 17. Following that, India will host New Zealand for another two-Test series beginning October 16. Initially, it was hoped that Shami would return for the Bangladesh Tests, but it appears fans will have to wait a bit longer. Despite a successful recovery, the team management is not rushing his return, according to Indian Express.
Shami missed the IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup 2024 due to his injury. He is now expected to make his comeback for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh, scheduled to begin on October 11.