Brisbane Test could mark Mohammed Shami's return to national squad

Though Mohammed Shami was a notable omission from Indiarsquos squad for the allimportant BorderGavaskar Trophy due to his ongoing ankle injury recovery there is a likelihood of him joining the team midway after making a return to competitive cricket through last two rounds of the ongoing Ranji TrophyShami whorsquos taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests made a return to bowling at the National Cricket Academy NCA in Bengaluru and even bowled at the Indian team nets after they lost the Test series opener to New Zealand by eight wickets where skipper Rohit Sharma had revealed the pacer had a setback in returning to action due to swelling on his kneeDespite looking gingerly at times with a heavy strapping on his left knee Shami seemed to have got a little bit of rhythm while bowling to Shubman Gill and a paddedup assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for more than an hour at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 20 The very next day Shami said at a promotional event at Gurugram that he was 100 per cent painfree and expressed his keen interest in playing a few domestic matchesSources have made IANS understand that if all goes well Shami will be available for Bengalrsquos Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka in Bengaluru starting from November 6 and then against Madhya Pradesh in Indore commencing from November 13 If he gets the approval of being fully match fit from the decision makers to be a part of the BorderGavaskar Trophy Shami may link up with the Indian team and possibly be in action from the third game at BrisbaneAlso ReadStill early days in Gambhirrsquos career he will soon learn Excoach ShastrildquoYes we have heard that Shami may join the Bengal team for the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka as the side will be coming to Bengaluru where hersquos already training preparing to his absolute best and doing his bowling practice at the NCA Everyone around him has been working hard to ensure he hopefully gets to play the game against Karnataka from November 6rdquoldquoThe parameters NCA people could observe for him would be around the number of overs he bowls and how his recovery process is after being out on the field for a day or even after featuring in all four days of the Ranji Trophy games If all of the processes with regards to him go well then one probably may see him be with the Indian team from the Brisbane Test happening from December 1418rdquo said the source privy to the developmentsShami known for picking scalps with his good pace ability to use the old ball for reverseswing and have an upright seam position last played competitive cricket when India played the 2023 Menrsquos ODI World Cup final against Australia at Ahmedabad on November 19 2023He then successfully underwent surgery on February 26 in London this year for solving his right achilles tendon problem and has been at the NCA since then for rehabilitation and recovery programme followed by a gradual return to bowlingAlso Read Mohammed Shami labels cartoongiri to InzamamulHaqs claim on Indias swing bowlingShami had played a pivotal role in Indias firstever Test series win in Australia in 201819 where he picked 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 2618 Though he didnrsquot play after the first Test in Adelaide in 202021 tour due to a fractured right forearm India managed to secure an unforgettable 21 triumphHis possible return and addition to the Indian team will be a source of uplifting news for the Rohit Sharmaled side who suffered a series defeat to New Zealand through a 113run loss in the second Test at PuneWith the defeat to New Zealand breaking their streak of 18 consecutive series wins at home India has to win at least four of its remaining six Tests to keep its hopes of playing the 2025 World Test Championship final aliveThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever