Mohammed Shami shows positive signs but still not in “perfect” rhythm; strikes 2 in 2 vs Pandya’s Baroda

Mohammed Shami has been probably the most “looked after” Indian player currently. The Indian pacer, who last played international cricket on November 19, 2023, has been among all the headlines due to the uncertainty surrounding his comeback. Shami has been preparing well to join the India Team. After playing his Ranji Trophy match, he was supposed to fly to Australia to be a part of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). But, since then, he has played 9 T20 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy within a span of just 18 days.

How did Mohammed Shami fare in his last SMAT game?

Shami’s latest clash was a high-octane one against Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya’s Baroda. The Baroda vs Bengal clash was the quarterfinal at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Shami’s team bowled first. Shami got the new ball and tried to pitch at the right areas. Shami started his over with two wide deliveries, taking some time to get into the rhythm.

However, he went wicketless. While there wasn’t much swing available, the Baroda openers didn’t find it difficult to tackle Shami. Mind you, a simple catch was dropped off Shami’s delivery in the first over. However, Shami, who is renowned to create havoc with the new ball, was ordinary. He banged the ball a bit short in his initial overs, leaking quite a few boundaries. In fact, in his first three, Shami gave away a worrying 40 runs.

Having said that, Shami showed his variation side as well. In his last over, the veteran bowled slower deliveries and yorkers as well, striking two in two balls. While both the wickets came when the batter tried to slog him, Shami ended the game with the figures of 2/43.

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Should Shami be drafted into the Indian team for BGT?

Shami was initially supposed to be a part of the BGT, but the BCCI Medical team decided to think otherwise. The ace pacer has been under constant observation by the team. Shami was also instructed to lose weight and attain 100% fitness before joining the India team. Speaking at a press conference at the loss at the Adelaide Test, even skipper Rohit Sharma made it clear that while the door for Shami is open, they want to be cautious before drafting him into the team.

Rohit said, “The door is very much open (for Mohammed Shami). But we are just monitoring him, because while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he got some swelling in his knee. It obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match here. We want to be very, very careful. We don’t want to be in that situation where we bring him for a game and then he pulls up sore. We want to be more than 100% sure with him.”

These quotes suggest that the Indian management would not even allow a 99% fit Shami in Australia. In fact, Shami has been under scanner on a day-to-day basis. Given how wearisome bowling it is to bowl in a Test match, that too, in a high-octane BGT series, Shami should be preserved. Yes, he has shone well in the Syed Mushtaq Trophy so far, but Test cricket is a different ball game. Once the 34-year-old looks in menacing touch, the team could ponder over him. Till then, the current BGT squad already boasts several pace options in the likes of Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana.