Mohammed Shami, India and tournament's highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023 with 24 scalps in 7 matches, has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 set to commence in March. A source close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed the same to news agency PTI. Shami has sustained an ankle injury which will cotinue to keep him out of action and for which he will undergoing a surgery in the United Kingdom.
Shami was the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2023, ending the season with 28 wickets for Gujarat Titans (GT), a pacer which the franchise acquired for Rs. 6.25 crore at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction.
"Shami was in London in last week of January to take special ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he can start light running and take it from thereon," a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
"But the injection hasn't worked and now the only option left is surgery. He will shortly leave for UK for surgery. IPL seems out of question," the source added.
Mohammed Shami Played Through Pain In ODI World Cup 2023
It is pertinent to note that Shami played through pain in the ODI World Cup 2023. While he was having problems with his landing during his run-up, he played a pivotal role in India's unbeaten run to the final in the marquee event in India. Even in the summit clash, where the hosts fell short, it was Shami's spell with the new ball that kept India's hopes alive before Travis Head's sensational hundred snatched India's World Cup glory.
Meanwhile, the PTI report has claimed Shami being ruled out of IPL raises questions over National Cricket Academy's (NCA) rehabilitation programme for the Indian speedster. A surgery and a few months of recovery would mean he could miss out much of the cricket action this year, including the T20 World Cup 2024.