Mohammed Shami's Australia tour eyes cancellation from India

All eyes are set on the star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami as Bengal gears up for a high-stakes Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 quarterfinal clash against Baroda at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday (December 11).

With his every move under scrutiny, fans and cricket experts are eager to know about his potential inclusion in India’s squad for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, especially after the tourists suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Mohammed Shami in the spotlight ahead of Bengal’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Quarterfinal against Baroda

The spotlight on Mohammed Shami isn’t just about his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, but it is also about whether the seasoned pacer is ready to take on the rigors of Test cricket Down Under. Currently, the big question is whether Shami will travel to Australia for the series.

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Unfortunately, India captain Rohit Sharma’s recent injury update on Shami hinted at disruptions in the Indian cricket team’s plans. Shami’s flight to Australia has hit another roadblock, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s recent concerns over the pacer’s swollen knee after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 match for Bengal.

The Indian pacer made a steady return from an ankle injury that kept him out of action for 12 months as he played nine consecutive games for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25. But Shami’s ability to endure the demands of extended spells in Test matches remains a big worry for the Indian team management and the BCCI.

Swollen knee raises questions about Mohammed Shami’s readiness for Tests

Meanwhile, the BCCI source revealed that Mohammed Shami’s fitness remains a concern for the BCCI, putting his chances to travel to Australia for the remainder of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 202425 in jeopardy. He will not be going to Australia anytime soon, so he is definitely not in Brisbane's plans.

According to the Indian Express, Mohammed Shami recently underwent a fitness test under the watchful eyes of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the BCCI. Based on updates from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), it seems he won’t be heading to Australia anytime soon.

The report also claimed that the BCCI is still concerned about whether the 34-year-old fast bowler can handle the demands of bowling long spells in Test matches. To address this concern, the Centre of Excellence staff is keeping a close eye on Shami's fitness and is closely tracking his fitness on a day-to-day basis in Bengaluru.

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We don't want to put pressure on him to come here: Rohit Sharma

Resulting in Mohammed Shami’s flight to Brisbane being delayed by the BCCI. After the second Test against Australia, Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the "door remained open" for Shami’s return for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 but noted that they are adopting a cautious approach.

The 37-year-old also revealed that Shami had recently dealt with a swollen knee during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 tournament. Rohit had stated, “We are just monitoring him because while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali, he again got some swelling in his knee. Obviously, that hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match.”

The Indian skipper added, “We want to be very, very careful. We don't want to bring him here in a situation where he plays and then he pulls up sore or something happens. We don't want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team. So, there are some professionals who are monitoring him.”