Mohammed Shami still in contention to play the Border Gavaskar Trophy?

The red-ball grind is picking up pace for India as the home Test season nears conclusion. The Test squad suffered an unprecedented setback in the ongoing India vs New Zealand Test series. India hosted New Zealand for a three-match series after registering a thumping win over Bangladesh. With the Kiwis coming to India after a series defeat to Sri Lanka in the subcontinent, India was confident in its ability to edge past the Kiwis at home. However, NZ, under its newly appointed skipper Tom Latham, scripted an upset as they beat India in the first Test at Chinnaswamy and subsequently on the turning pitch in Pune. While there still remains a match to be played, New Zealand, with its win in the second Test, broke India's streak of remaining unbeaten in Tests at home for 12 years. Despite this significant setback, India will head to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy with full rigor. While the team prepares for the five-match series Down Under, it is being reported that pacer Mohammed Shami might join the team midway through the BGT.

Mohammed Shami aiming to join India squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 

The BCCI recently announced an 18-member India squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in India. Mohammed Shami was not named in the touring squad due to his recovery from an ankle injury. Some surprise entrants, like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, were included in the squad for the India Tour of Australia. While Rana is expected to fill in for Shami, Reddy is anticipated to play a significant role in the team, as he has replaced Shardul Thakur as the pace all-round option for the away assignment. However, despite the squad already being announced, the latest reports suggest that Shami could indeed make it to Australia for the all-important red-ball series.

According to a recent report, Shami is set to resume competitive cricket in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, representing Bengal against Karnataka in Bengaluru from November 6. Moreover, the pacer will follow with a game against Madhya Pradesh in Indore starting November 13. The report further indicates that Shami may be fit to rejoin India’s squad for the third Test of the series, scheduled for December 14 in Brisbane.

Shami has been out since injuring his ankle in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, subsequently undergoing surgery and then rehabilitation at Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) under the BCCI’s guidance, with the goal of preparing him for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma recently updated fans about the pacer facing a knee injury, pushing the plans for his comeback further ahead. Now, with Shami planning to get back into rhythm with the Ranji Trophy matches, there are chances for him to join Rohit Sharma midway through the BGT in Australia. Shami also shared a video on Instagram, where he was seen training intensely. In his caption, he expressed regret to fans and the BCCI for his absence, assuring them he’d return to red-ball cricket soon.