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The Border Gavaskar Trophy has entered the conclusive phase of the five-match series, with just two Tests remaining Down Under. If the limited number of matches left to play wasn’t indication enough, the BCCI has officially dashed any hopes of seamer Mohammed Shami joining the squad. When India geared up for the BGT, Shami was preparing to return to the field after an injury-marred hiatus of almost a year. Meanwhile, the Indian team opted for young pace options Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy to assist Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The management remained uncertain about Shami's fitness to bowl extended spells following his recent return to competitive cricket. It turns out Shami's domestic season performances haven’t been sufficient to alleviate these doubts.
BCCI rules Mohammed Shami out of BGT contention
On Monday, the BCCI confirmed that Mohammed Shami will not join the India squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Marking a successful recovery from the ankle injury that required surgery, Shami returned to action in the Ranji Trophy. In a bid to prove his fitness for the five-match series Down Under, Shami also participated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. While it initially seemed like the seamer might join Jasprit Bumrah in Australia ahead of the Gabba Test, the BCCI maintained its reservations. Hopes dwindled further when Shami was excluded from the Gabba Test, and now it has been officially confirmed that the Indian team will need to wait longer for the seasoned pacer’s return.
In the announcement, the BCCI specified that Shami is still dealing with issues in his knee. According to the statement, Shami is experiencing minor swelling in his left knee, attributed to increased joint stress caused by his bowling workload. The board clarified that this swelling was anticipated due to the heightened activity following his extended break from international cricket. They further added that Shami’s recovery timeline remains uncertain and that his participation in Bengal’s ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign will depend on his progress.
"The swelling is within expected parameters, arising from increased bowling following a significant break," the BCCI informed.
"Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy,” the release specified.
The update comes after Rohit Sharma brought the NCA into focus following the Gabba Test. The Indian skipper has faced relentless queries regarding Shami's return in the BGT. In his last media interaction, the captain seemed slightly aggravated as he mentioned that he could not comment until the NCA deemed Shami fit. Prior to the Gabba Test, Rohit had disclosed that Shami was dealing with swelling in his knee. Now, India will rely entirely on the chosen pace lineup for the remaining BGT fixtures. Through the three matches completed so far, Jasprit Bumrah has shouldered most of the bowling responsibility, claiming 21 wickets. Next up is the Boxing Day Test, the fourth fixture, with India and Australia locked at 1-1 after three Tests.