It’s official! Mohammed Shami out of India vs Australia Tests, doubtful for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Mohammed Shami is officially out of the India vs Australia Test series. Despite returning to cricket after a one-year hiatus, Shami always remained doubtful for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Playing one red-ball match and nine T20 games did give everyone hopes that he’d be available for at least the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, but another injury flare-up ruled him out of Bengal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy opener and now the BGT.

After the Gabba Test, Rohit Sharma was asked about Shami’s availability. The Team India captain was clueless about where the pacer stood after returning from his heel injury, and the latest he knew about was Shami having swelling in his knees. He urged that it’s time to ask the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for an update on the pacer and not him.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has heard Rohit’s request and obliged. It’s now confirmed that Shami indeed has minor swelling in his left knee due to an increase in his bowling workload. The BCCI assured that the medical team is working on getting Shami to his best.

“Shami bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November. Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches. However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period,” BCCI said in a release.

Shami out of Vijay Hazare Trophy & Champions Trophy?

Shami was initially ruled out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener but now it seems like he’s be out for a few more matches. So far, it’s uncertain whether he’ll return to play 50-over cricket. This also diminishes his chances of featuring for Team India in the ICC Champions Trophy which kicks off in late February.

“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. Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee,” the released read.