Mohammed Shami might play Duleep Trophy to prove match fitness ahead of India return

Mohammed Shami. (Photo Source: Twitter)

India’s star bowler, Mohammed Shami has been sidelined due to an ankle injury since World Cup 2023. He was the highest wicket-taker in the World Cup and dazzled with a 7-fer against New Zealand in the semi-final, the best figures for an Indian pacer in World Cups. The recuperation process has been long and arduous for over nine months, but the pacer might be eyeing a comeback as soon as September.

According to the reports from ESPNcricinfo, Shami might have to play the Duleep Trophy to prove his match fitness before eyeing an international comeback with a Test series against Bangladesh in September. The 33-year-old is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, and he is on the last leg of his rehab journey. It was further reported that the right-arm pacer had shown great developments, which was confirmed by the chief of the All India Men’s Senior Selection Committee, Ajit Agarkar.

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“We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back up. Shami has started to bowl which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don’t know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that,” Agarkar told before the tour to Sri Lanka in a press conference.

“There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that,” he added.

Shami aims to play Ranji Trophy as well

Moreover, the Uttar Pradesh-born had revealed his desire to play first-class cricket for his home team Bengal before making an international comeback. However, if the comeback happens and Shami plays the Bangladesh series, which will soon be followed by Tests against New Zealand at home and a tour to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it is safe to assume that the pacer might not get to feature in Ranji due to hectic international matches.