NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday provided a key update on premium pacer Mohammed Shami’s availability for the remaining two Tests against Australia. With two crucial matches remaining in the series, Shami’s inclusion will surely strengthen India’s chances of clinching the series against the formidable Aussies.
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Speaking at a press conference after the drawn Gabba Test in Brisbane, Rohit categorically stated that it’s high time someone from National Cricket Academy (NCA), where the ace pacer is undergoing rehabilitation after ankle surgery in November 2023, should talk about it as they are the ones who will give Shami green signal for the international cricket.
“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That’s our national cricket academy where he is rehabbing. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update. But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well,” Rohit said in the post-match press meet.
“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,” Rohit quipped, referring to the disruption caused by mid-series injuries.
Shami has been away from international cricket since participating in India’s ODI World Cup Final in November 2023. His path back to competitive cricket has involved playing domestic tournaments.
Following his surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation, the seasoned fast bowler resumed playing through the Ranji Trophy, and later delivered strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
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The Indian cricket team’s management remains cautious about Shami’s return, insisting on definitive clearance from the NCA. Rohit emphasised that the team would only consider including him in the squad after receiving complete assurance regarding his fitness from the academy.
“There’s no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not a hundred percent, 200 hundred percent 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’s okay to go and recovered and play, I will be happy to have him,” he added.
The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1 after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw on Wednesday. The action now moves to iconic MCG for the Boxing Day Test, starting on December 26.