This is the details of pacer Mohammed Shami’s career-threatening injury

Mohammed Shami’s last competitive match took place on November 19, 2023, during India’s devastating 50-over World Cup defeat to Australia. Since being pulled in for the league match against New Zealand in Dharamsala, Shami has mostly bowled first-change, behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. However, he was unexpectedly handed the second over in the championship match because he was sick and wanted to bowl when he was at his best.

Virat Kohli caught David Warner at first slip with the seasoned pacer’s first delivery that was legal. But for Shami and India, it was the best things could have gone. Finishing with one wicket for 47 from seven overs that were progressively devoid of aggression, Australia easily defeated England by six wickets with 42 deliveries remaining.

At that time, neither Shami nor the main Indian cricket stakeholders could have predicted that he would have to spend so much time recovering from an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery on his right heel in London in February. If Shami’s personal problems haven’t precisely affected the national team, it’s because India didn’t have any foreign Test matches planned for the first 11.5 months of 2024, with the exception of a match against South Africa in early January in Cape Town, which the visitors won in any event in two days.

With the National Cricket Academy’s Sports Science staff keeping a close eye on Shami’s meticulous rehabilitation, it seems quite likely that he will gradually return to the national squad during the three-Test home series against New Zealand. He would participate in one of Bengal’s early Ranji Trophy matches before being added back to the national squad, according to a strict Return to participate policy that requires injured players to demonstrate their match-fitness in a realistic setting.

The timing worked to his advantage: the Ranji season started on October 11 and the last New Zealand Test match in Mumbai began on November 1. Even if Shami were to miss the opening two Test matches in Bengaluru (starting on Wednesday) and Pune (October 24-28), he still had plenty of time to play one match for his state, demonstrate his fitness, and get back into test mode before the five-Test series against Australia that begins the following month.

A new knee ailment exacerbates Shami’s problems.

Everything is going OK so far. Up until the 34-year-old recently had a painful setback when he sustained a knee ailment that may have compromised his ability to compete in Australia. Shami had swelling in his knee as he was achieving full fitness—a strange circumstance that has prompted him to start again and may keep him from participating in any Test matches in Australia.

“He is collaborating with the doctors and physiotherapists at NCA.” On Tuesday, Indian captain Rohit Sharma stated, “We’re crossing our fingers.” Above all, we want him to be completely fit. It is not our intention to introduce an undercooked Shami to Australia.

Shami has to have experience in a match, not only in the nets, in order to avoid being “undercooked.” That’s a long way from where he is today, so India will have to do without his services for the first part of the Australian trip, at the very least.

Over the last several years, injuries have been the most common reason why India has been unable to rely on all of its first-choice choices. Their most recent Australian tour served as a prime illustration of a string of cruel cutbacks. In the first Test match in Adelaide, Shami suffered a broken forearm. As the match progressed, India also lost Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah. It was quite admirable that they rallied to win a second series in Australia.

Shami would have been eager to add to his outstanding performance of 37 wickets from eight Test matches in Australia, where seam influence predominates over swing. At this point in his career, he should normally be given special attention. Prolonged and untimely layoffs due to injuries might potentially artificially lengthen his career, but he is also older than a younger guy, so recuperation and rehabilitation would take longer.

Since making his ODI debut in January 2013, Shami has been an excellent contributor to Indian cricket for over a decade. He has amassed 448 international wickets to show for his efforts. Maybe he has a few more miles in his legs and some petrol left in the tank, but will the injuries please go away?