IND vs BAN: 'I won't agree to come back...' - Mohammed Shami stuns Gautam Gambhir with bold remarks

The 34-year-old India National Cricket Team premier pacer Mohammed Shami has opened up about his return to action for the national team with the big Test season coming up.

India under the leadership of Rohit Sharma are all set to play as many as 10 Test matches in the next few months starting with a two-match series against Bangladesh at home, which will be followed by a three-match home series against New Zealand and then they will travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Mohammed Shami will be a key player for India in the upcoming matches as he, along with Jasprit Bumrah, form a deadly pace-bowling duo that every team fears.

Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation after he underwent surgery for an Achilles tendon injury in February 2024. Although he has started bowling in the nets, he is not expected to return anytime soon.

Mohammed Shami, who was last seen in action in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, will reportedly miss all the Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. And he is expected to directly make his comeback in international cricket against Australia in the high-voltage Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

India National Cricket Team are currently at the No.1 spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Points Table and the upcoming matches will decide whether or not the Men In Blue play their third consecutive WTC final, which will be hosted by Lord's this time around.

Until I feel 100 percent fit, I won't agree to come back, irrespective of the format or the opposition - Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami has now himself talked about his possible comeback on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata on Saturday.

Shami said that he is trying his best to return to action soon but added that he would only come back when he feels he is fully fit as he doesn't want to take any risk of getting injured again.

“I am trying to make a return as soon as possible, because I know that I have been away from a long time now. But I also want to make sure I have no doubts in my mind when I return. The stronger I return, better it is for me, and lesser are the chances for me to get injured again.

"So it doesn't matter whether I return for Bangladesh, New Zealand or Australia series. I have already started bowling. But as I said, I don't want to take any risk. Until I feel 100 per cent fit, I won't agree to come back, irrespective of the format or the opposition. If I have to play domestic, I will even play that,” he said, as quoted by HT.

Mohammed Shami has also expressed his desire to play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, and reportedly, he will play a couple of matches to stage his international comeback and prove his match fitness.

Overall, Shami has played 64 Test matches for the India National Cricket Team and has bagged 229 wickets at an average of 27.71, an economy of 3.30, and a strike rate of 50.2.