IND vs NZ: Mohammed Shami ruled out of New Zealand Tests in colossal blow for India

In a colossal blow for the India National Cricket Team, the premier right-arm pacer Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the home Test series against the New Zealand National Cricket Team, according to a report in Sportskeeda.

The 34-year-old has not played competitive cricket since his appearance for the Indian team on November 19, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where India lost the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia National Cricket Team.

Mohammed Shami's lengthy absence from cricket has been due to an Achilles tendon injury for which he was forced to undergo surgery. After a successful surgery, he began his rehabilitation program and things have been going well for him.

Earlier, it was expected, he would return to action in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which will start on September 19, but that didn't happen as the BCCI took a cautious approach with the pacer. Then, it was reported that he would come back to international cricket through the Test series against New Zealand.

Mohammed Shami was reportedly planning to play the opening match of the upcoming season of the Ranji Trophy for Bengal against Uttar Pradesh, which will begin on October 11, before making his comeback to the national team for the 2nd and 3rd Test matches against New Zealand. However, now his return has been further delayed.

Mohammed Shami Out Of New Zealand Tests

As per Sportskeeda, Mohammed Shami will not be able to recover in time for the Test series against the Kiwis. The three Test matches between India and New Zealand would be played from October 16-20, October 24-28, and November 1-5 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Reportedly, Mohammed Shami will not even get fit in time for the third Test against the Black Caps and would highly likely return to action for India in the high-voltage Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which will begin on November 22.

Before traveling to Australia for the high-octane series, Mohammed Shami will take part in a couple of Ranji Trophy games to get match practice. However, Shami will only be allowed to play Ranji Trophy games after getting a clearance and a fitness certificate from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) that he currently doesn't have.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will he giving opportunities to the likes of Akash Deep and Yash Dayal to showcase their talent in the upcoming matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand in the absence of Mohammed Shami.

For the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, Indian selectors have picked four pacers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal - in the squad. If the reports of the red-soil pitch for the first Test come out to be true, India could field three pace bowlers with Akash Deep or Yash Dayal joining Bumrah and Siraj.

Also, Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the second Test, which would allow India to try out a new pacer in the playing XI. Notably, Yash Dayal has received his maiden Test call-up for the first match against Bangladesh because the team management is looking for a left-arm pacer who can deliver in the Australian conditions in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.