Having sustained an ankle injury, the 34-year-old seamer is yet to play for India since the 2023 ODI World Cup Final.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel believes Mohammed Shami’s comeback to competitive cricket – marked by a seven-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy – is a ‘massive win’ for India.
Speaking ahead of the curtain raiser of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, Morkel acknowledged the impact Shami can have for the team, but went on to add that the Indian team management isn’t rushing the seasoned campaigner’s recovery.
We’re definitely keeping a close eye (on him). Shami is a world class bowler. But also, on the same page, we need to understand that he has been out of the game for almost a year. And we also need to respect him and his body,” Morkel said.
Shami, who picked up an ankle injury during his monumental run at last year’s ODI World Cup, played his first professional game in a year’s time last week in India’s premier first-class competition, Ranji Trophy.