Mohammed Shami's Return Delayed By Knee Issue, Could Miss Upcoming India vs Australia Series: Report

Mohammed Shami's anticipated comeback to competitive cricket has reportedly been jeopardised by a newly developed knee issue which puts him in doubt for the upcoming India vs Australia Test series.

Mohammed Shami Injury: Mohammed Shami has been out of any cricketing action since India’s loss in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup owing to ankle injury and his comeback for the Indian cricket team has been much anticipated by fans. With India set to tour Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November, Shami looked set to feature in the Indian team, poised to return to his bowling duties. However, a report suggests that his comeback might get delayed even more.

As per a report by Times of India, Shami has developed a “swollen knees” issue during his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and could be out for another six to eight weeks.

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Shami In Doubt For Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Recovering at the NCA after the ankle surgery that he underwent in February this year, the right arm-pacer was expected to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. However, the new report suggests that he is not only in danger of missing the Ranji matches, but also puts doubts over his participation in the Australia vs India series.

"Shami had resumed bowling and he was looking on track to make a comeback to competitive cricket soon. But this knee injury has flared up recently. BCCI's medical team is assessing the injury but it may require quite a bit of time," TOI quoted a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source as saying.

The report quotes the BCCI source saying that this development was a big “jolt” for the NCA medical team, who have been working with Shami on his injury for over a year now. Howver, the source remains optimistic about the medical team’s abilities stating that they’re trying best tu put Shami back in the field.

"It's a jolt for the NCA medical team. They have been working on him for over a year. They have one of the best workload management systems in place. The medical team is trying its best to put him back in the park soon," the source said.

Before India begin their Australia tour, the Men in Blue will face Bangladesh for three T20Is and then face New Zealand for three Tests at home. After the Tests, they will travel to South Africa for four T20Is and then fly Down Under for five Tests.