Mohammed Shami all set for brilliant comeback in Gabba Test against Australia

The India National Cricket Team superstar fast bowler Mohammed Shami is all set to make his comeback in the third Test against the Australia National Cricket Team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Mohammed Shami is likely to play his first international game since the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba in Brisbane, which will commence on December 14.

Mohammed Shami not named in India squad for Australia tour

Mohammed Shami has not been named in the India squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. There are a total of eight pacers in the squad, including the reserves, but Shami was not picked.

Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace-bowling attack, which consists of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana in the main squad and Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini in the reserves.

The Bumrah-led pace attack does not look threatening, but the addition of Mohammed Shami would change things completely. Shami is currently recovering well after undergoing surgery on February 26 in London to solve his right Achilles tendon problem.

He has made a gradual return to bowling and was seen bowling to the India National Cricket Team assistant coach Abhishek Nayar after the Bengaluru Test between India and New Zealand.

Notably, Shami was initially expected to feature in the home Test series against Bangladesh or New Zealand, but his fresh knee setback has delayed his comeback.

Yes, we have heard that Mohammed Shami may join the Bengal team for the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka - Sources

According to the IANS sources, Mohammed Shami is set to make his comeback to competitive cricket through the Ranji Trophy 2024. He is likely to play two matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, which will begin on November 6 and 13.

If everything goes as per plan and he gets fully fit, Shami will travel directly to Australia and feature in India's playing XI from the third Test onwards.

“Yes, we have heard that Shami may join the Bengal team for the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, as the side will be coming to Bengaluru, where he’s already training, preparing to his absolute best and doing his bowling practice at the NCA. Everyone around him has been working hard to ensure he hopefully gets to play the game against Karnataka from November 6.”

“The parameters NCA people could observe for him would be around the number of overs he bowls, and how his recovery process is after being out on the field for a day or even after featuring in all four days of the Ranji Trophy games. If all of the processes with regards to him go well, then one probably may see him be with the Indian team from the Brisbane Test happening from December 14-18,” said the source privy to the developments.

Mohammed Shami's return would be a huge boost

Shami's return would be a big boost for the Indian team, who recently faced a shocking Test series defeat against New Zealand at home.

In the first Test in Bengaluru, India lost to New Zealand by 8 wickets, and in the second Test, they faced a defeat by 113 runs. It was the first time in over a decade that India lost a home Test series and their 18-series winning streak was also broken.

Mohammed Shami's comeback will also take some burden off Jasprit Bumrah's shoulders, who lacks a good bowling partner at the moment with Mohammed Siraj out of form.

Shami played a key role in India's first Test series win in Australia in 2018/19 as he bagged 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 26.18.