Team India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami may remain out of the first two Tests of the five-match series against England starting from January 25. He recently revealed that he played with pain during the ODI World Cup 2023, after which he was advised to take a break from the game. Currently, he is recovering from an ankle injury, which also ruled him out of the two-match Test series against South Africa.
According to reports, the 33-year-old player has not started bowling in the nets yet. BCCI officials are hopeful that the fast bowler will undergo his fitness test at the NCA before making a place in the Test team. If he passes the test, Shami will join the team in Rajkot for the third Test.
Will not be able to play the first two test matches against England – BCCI official
A BCCI source was quoted by the Indian Express as saying, “Shami has not even started bowling yet, he will have to go to NCA to prove his fitness. It is difficult for him to play in the first two Tests against England.
For the first two Test matches against England, Prasidh Krishna or Mukesh Kumar can be included in the playing eleven in place of Shami. In the second Test against the Proteas at Newlands, Cape Town, Kumar performed well with the ball, while Prasidh was decent. Captain Rohit Sharma was not happy with his performance in the first Test of the series in Centurion.
Except Shami, all other Test cricketers are fit for the blockbuster series against England. The team is set to reunite in Hyderabad after the series against Afghanistan. The T2oI series against Afghanistan will end on January 17.