Border Gavaskar Trophy: How long will it take for Mohammed Shami to join the India squad?

The Mohammed Shami puzzle is far from being solved by India as the Border Gavaskar Trophy continues down under. The seamer has marked a full recovery from his ankle injury that kept him away from the game for almost a year. However, the selection committee seems unsure of his fitness and whether it is suitable enough to put the seasoned seamer against Australia right away. As Shami continues to play in domestic tournaments in India, the NCA is taking its time before deeming Shami fit to pull the hard yards and join Jasprit Bumrah for the five-match Test series. Moreover, with the management still in two minds about the decision, Shami could join the Indian squad no sooner than after the Brisbane Test, the third BGT fixture, is concluded.

NCA yet to clear Mohammed Shami for Border Gavaskar Trophy

With India struggling against the Aussies in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, uncertainty still looms over the availability of Mohammed Shami. The seamer, out of the game due to a prolonged ankle injury, joined the field ahead of the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, the seamer needed to get some action going before getting a nod for the all-important five-match series down under. As directed, Shami played for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and is now playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to prove his fitness for the series against the Kangaroos.

However, despite closely monitoring the pacer’s development across the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the NCA is yet to provide the required fitness clearance to Mohammed Shami. Moreover, as per recent reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still deliberating on when, not if, he can be sent down under. Representing Bengal in the National T20 competition, Shami impressed by taking eight wickets in seven matches. But more than his impressive bowling performances, the primary concern remains whether Shami can handle the physical demands of a Test match workload, especially after a year-long injury layoff.

Sources indicate that Shami is unlikely to join the India squad in the immediate future. India, meanwhile, could make great use of the seamer, as the pace attack seems to be falling short in the Adelaide Test. If Shami is given timely clearance, the pacer could potentially join the team for the final Test in Sydney, with the best-case scenario being his availability for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on December 26. However, sources warn that these hopes may be too optimistic, and it is entirely possible he won’t travel to Australia at all. Meanwhile, Bengal has advanced to the knockout stage of the SMAT, and Shami is set to feature in their pre-quarterfinal match against Chandigarh, scheduled for November 9 at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

"The quicker he joins, the better": Ravi Shastri wants Shami to join India as soon as possible in the BGT

India is facing the wrath of pink-ball King, Mitchell Starc, in the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While Starc registered his career-best figure of 6/48 in the ongoing clash, Indian seamers have displayed wayward bowling. Moreover, the lineup looks oddly reliant on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to some extent. While Harshit Rana made an impressive debut in Perth, the young seamer was bashed significantly by Travis Head at Adelaide as the Kangaroo hit a blazing ton. With India struggling down under, former India head coach Ravi Shastri, while in the commentary box, acknowledged that India’s chances would significantly improve with the return of Mohammed Shami for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.

“The quicker he (Shami) reaches here, the better,” Ravi Shastri said during commentary on Saturday.

Shastri, though, remains hopeful that Shami will rejoin the squad for the upcoming Test in Brisbane, set to begin on December 14. The series will continue with the fourth and fifth Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, scheduled for December 26 and January 7. Meanwhile, a source close to the board has revealed that the kit and visa are ready for Shami, but the clearance has kept them waiting.

“The selection committee is waiting for the NCA’s fitness clearance report on Shami. He travelled to Bengaluru to give a fitness test. He played the Ranji Trophy as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, where he looked good. His kit is also ready. We are just waiting for the approval from the NCA,” the source informed recently.