Can Mohammad Shami Prove Fitness in Ranji Trophy for BGT?

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami is poised to return to competitive cricket after nearly a year of absence. The Bengal pacer is set to feature in Bengal’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh, starting November 13 in Indore. This will mark Shami’s first appearance since last year’s ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad.

Shami’s fitness has been a subject of close attention in the lead-up to India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth. Although he wasn’t selected for the five-match Test series, Shami had expressed hope of making the squad after playing one or two domestic games. His upcoming match in the Ranji Trophy will be crucial for him to prove his fitness ahead of the Test series in Australia.

Shami, sidelined due to an ankle injury and an Achilles tendon issue, underwent surgery on his right foot in March 2024. Since then, he has spent several months at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, working on his rehabilitation. The fast bowler also recovered from ankle swelling and a side strain that affected his World Cup campaign. Despite these setbacks, Shami had an impressive World Cup, finishing as India’s top wicket-taker with 24 wickets from seven matches at an average of 10.70.

With the domestic season well underway, Shami has one opportunity to play a red-ball match in the Ranji Trophy before the focus shifts to white-ball cricket. The Ranji season has been split into two phases, and there is only one round left before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a T20 competition, begins on November 23. If Shami impresses in the four-day match, he could make it into India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy or later series.

If Shami proves his fitness in the upcoming Ranji game, he could join India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Currently, the team includes vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana as fast bowling options. The reserves consist of Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed. Shami’s experience and proven record, especially in Australia, make him a strong contender for a spot in the XI if he is fit.

However, Shami was initially expected to return to action earlier, hoping to feature in the Bangladesh series in September and the Duleep Trophy. Unfortunately, a setback due to swelling in his left knee delayed his recovery, as confirmed by Indian captain Rohit Sharma. This has pushed back Shami’s comeback, but the Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh could be his final fitness test.

If Shami cannot cut the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his next opportunity for a return could come during India’s white-ball series at home against England in January 2025. This would allow Shami to get back into form ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for later in the year.

Shami’s experience and contributions, particularly his standout performances in India’s historic 2018-19 series win in Australia, make his return eagerly awaited. Whether in Test or white-ball cricket, his comeback will be crucial for India’s pace attack in the coming months.

Image Credits: ANI News

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