Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been out of action for over a year due to an ankle injury. Despite being fully prepared to travel to Australia for the final two tests including Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Shami's knee swelling forced him to miss the series.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy, Shami posted a video on social media showing himself practicing with full intensity in the nets as he eyes comeback ahead of Champions Trophy. Shami captioning the video, "Precision, Pace, and Passion, All Set to Take on the World!”.
His form was at its peak during the ICC World Cup 2023, where he took 27 wickets, finishing as the tournament's highest wicket-taker. However, he has struggled with injuries since then, keeping him out of action.
As India prepares for the upcoming white-ball series against England and the Champions Trophy in February 2025 (to be held in Pakistan and Dubai, with only India’s matches played), Shami is expected to be considered as one of the pacers for the tournament.
Mohammed Shami’s Injury Timeline:
November 2023: Heel Injury During ODI World Cup
Mohammed Shami finished as a highest wicket taker in ICC ODI WOrld Cup The pacer suffered a chronic heel problem and had to play the tournament taking injections.
February 2024: Achilles Tendon Surgery
After the World Cup, Shami underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon to address the long-standing heel issue. This marked the beginning of a lengthy rehabilitation period, sidelining him from cricket for nearly a year.
October 2024: Knee Swelling During Rehabilitation
While Shami continues his rehabilitation post surgry ,he had a swollen knee, causing delaying his recovery. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, confirmed the setback, but Shami remained optimistic about returning to domestic cricket before resuming his international career.
November 2024: Side Strain Rules Him Out of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
While preparing for Bengal’s Ranji Trophy matches to test his fitness, Shami suffered a side strain. This injury ruled him out of Border-Gavaskar Trophy and domestic matches.
December 2024: Return to Domestic Cricket
Shami returned to action after a year playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This marked a significant step in his journey back to full fitness.
Late December 2024: BCCI rules out Shami out of Border- Gavaskar Trophy
The BCCI confirmed that Shami would miss the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to knee swelling, linked to his recovery workload. Despite the challenges, the board expressed confidence in his eventual full recovery.
