With the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy set to begin roughly within forty days, test captain Rohit Sharma has revealed bitter news ahead of the first test of the New Zealand tour of India on October 15.
Rohit Sharma gave an update on pacer Mohammed Shami who Would not be travelling with the team for the Australia tour. Shami has been rested from cricketing duties since the ODI World Cup 2023. On Multiple occasions, the pacer was expected to make his return on various occasions but has encountered roadblocks.
Speaking to the reporters ahead of the New Zealand tests, Rohit confirmed that he isn’t keen to bring Shami for the Australia series even if he is fit.
“To be honest, it is difficult to make a call on him for the Australia series. He had a setback and had swelling in his knees. That put him back a little bit and had to start again. He’s at the NCA with doctors and physios.”
“We don’t want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Rohit Sharma said.
💬💬 Our focus is to improve and better our performance.#TeamIndia Captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the #INDvNZ Test series 👌👌@IDFCFIRSTBank | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/mJMOvVgVDw
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 15, 2024
“He was in the process of getting fit, getting close to 100 per cent, he had swelling in his knee, that put him back a little bit in his recovery. So, he had to start again. Right now, he’s at NCA, he’s working with the physios and the doctors at NCA,” he added.
Rohit confirmed that even team management wants Shami to recover his full fitness before returning to the national team.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed, we want him to be 100 per cent fit. We don’t want to bring an undercooked Shami to Australia, that is not going to be the right decision for us.
“It is quite tough for a fast bowler, having missed so much of cricket, and then suddenly to come out and be at his best, it is not ideal,” he noted.
The NCA staff are working tirelessly with Shami to bring him to full fitness and Shami is expected to play a few domestic matches to prove his fitness.
“We want to give him enough time to recover and be 100 per cent fit. The physios, the trainers, and the doctors have set a roadmap for him.
“He is supposed to play a couple of (practice) games before he plays international cricket,” he added.
Earlier while rumours about his recovery and return for the Australia series peaked, Shami said he would be available for Australia test.
“Why these type of baseless rumors? I’m working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor me have mentioned that I am out of the Border Gavaskar series.”
“I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources. Please stop and don’t spread such fake fake fake & fake news, especially without my statement,” Shami posted on X (formerly Twitter).
While Rohit Sharma hasn’t confirmed Shami not playing in Australia tests, his recovery will be key for his return for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
