Shami’s return date set Gambhir & Rohit breathe easy ahead of BGT
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma breathed a sigh of relief as Mohammed Shami’s return to action was confirmed. On Tuesday, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) announced Shami would make his comeback in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, playing for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Wednesday.
Shami had been sidelined since last year’s 2023 ODI World Cup final due to an ankle injury. After undergoing surgery in February, he spent months rehabbing at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Though he was expected to return for the New Zealand Test series, a knee issue delayed his comeback, ruling him out of the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia.
Despite setbacks, Shami is now fit for the Ranji Trophy, with NCA clearance and confirmation from Bengal’s coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Shami will join his Bengal team in Indore ahead of the match. His return gives a much-needed boost to India, as they look to build momentum for the Australia series.
India’s squad, currently in Australia, could benefit significantly from Shami’s experience and match fitness. With the Test series against Australia starting on November 22, Shami’s performance in Ranji could see him make a swift return to the international scene. His inclusion could strengthen India’s World Test Championship bid and help ease pressure on Gambhir and Rohit, both under scrutiny after India’s home whitewash against New Zealand.
If Shami proves his fitness, he could join Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj in the seam attack, with Akash Deep rounding out the trio. This strengthened lineup could be vital for India’s chances in Australia, offering a much-needed recovery from recent setbacks.
