Mohammed Shami's international career in jeopardy as India vs Australia Tests become a dream

Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami has suffered another injury during his ongoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. It is believed that Shami developed swollen knees during his rehab at the NCA.

It is a huge blow for Team India who were eagerly waiting for the return of their premier fast bowler. The injury has put Shami's chances of participating in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in serious doubt.

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Mohammed Shami suffers an injury during rehab

Mohammed Shami has been at the NCA for his rehabilitation since undergoing Achilles Tendon surgery earlier this year. He was on track for a return and had even started bowling at full tilt in the nets.

But the recent injury is likely to keep him out for six to eight weeks which possibly rules him out of India's upcoming Test series against New Zealand. India will play a three-match Test series against New Zealand at home. The series is set to begin on October 16.

A BCCI source informed that Shami was right on track for his recovery but the recent knee injury has come up at the wrong time. The medical team is having a look at the injury and it may take some time.

"(Mohammed) Shami had resumed bowling and he was looking on track to make a comeback to competitive cricket soon. But this knee injury has flared up recently. BCCI's medical team is assessing the injury but it may require quite a bit of time," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by TOI.

Indian fast bowling suffers a big blow

Shami was expected to return to professional cricket through the upcoming season of Ranji Trophy. The 34-year-old quick was expected to play one or two games for his Ranji side Bengal before making his Test return.

After playing in the Ranji Trophy, he was expected to play at least one Test match against New Zealand to be match-ready before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which will begin on November 22 in Perth.

However, all the plans have to be changed now as it is a huge blow to India's chances of defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Mohammed Shami is one of the three premier fast bowlers in Indian cricket currently alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Mohammed Shami's last international match

Mohammed Shami has yet to play a professional match since the ODI World Cup 2023 last year. He suffered the injury of the Achilles tendon during the World Cup but kept playing through the pain. However, soon after the tournament, he realized the extent of the injury.

In February 2024, he underwent surgery in London which kept him out of IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024. The NCA medical team was very careful regarding Shami and wanted him to be fully fit for the five-match Test series against Australia later this year.

Not only Shami, but the NCA has been carefully monitoring the workload of other fast bowlers as well. India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's workload has been managed to give him proper rest. The Test series against Bangladesh was Bumrah's first international assignment since the T20 World Cup 2024 final.