Shami to Make Competitive Return in Ranji Trophy After Nearly a Year
India fast bowler Mohammed Shami is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket as part of Bengal’s squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh, starting November 13 in Indore. This marks his first appearance since the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, where he played against Australia.
Shami, sidelined due to an ankle injury, had been working hard to regain fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He underwent surgery earlier this year for a foot injury and spent several months recovering from Achilles tendon issues, ankle swelling, and a side strain. Before the selection of India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami expressed his desire to play one or two Ranji Trophy games to prove his fitness. However, the season’s split format means he can only feature in one match before white-ball competitions begin.
If Shami performs well in the four-day game, he could make his way into India’s Test squad for the series in Australia, where fast bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are already in the lineup. Shami, who played a pivotal role in India’s 2018-19 series win in Australia, could also be available for the upcoming white-ball series against England in January if he misses the Test series.
Updated on 12th November, 2024 by MyFortune11