Due to fitness-related issues and uncertainty about his comeback, Shami was not included in the 18-member squad announced by BCCI for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.
Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami made a super comeback to competitive cricket on Wednesday (November 13) after remaining out of action for almost a year. In his first Ranji Trophy match of the ongoing 2024-25 season for Bengal, the 34-year-old pacer bowled 19 overs in the first inning against Madhya Pradesh at Holkar Stadium in Indore and picked up 4 wickets for 54 runs.
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Impressed by Shami’s performance in the comeback match, his childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin said that he never felt like Shami was bowling after a year.
“I saw his bowling clips, and it didn’t feel like he was bowling after one year,” Badruddin was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “You can’t take the art away from the artist. He has waited very patiently for this moment,” he added.
The 34-year-old pacer was not included in India’s 18-member squad picked for the upcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia. But according to Badruddin, he is hopeful that Shami will travel to Australia and play in the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“He will be joining the Indian team after the Adelaide (second) Test. Now that he is back, proved his fitness, and picked up wickets, he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” he said.
Badruddin said since Shami has only played in one Ranji Trophy match, he could play a few matches in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy for Bengal as well to get some more game time.
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“He wants to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali, but it depends on what the Indian team management wants. He was asked to prove his fitness, and in his 19-over spell, he showed that he is not rusty. Shami is a rhythm bowler; the more he bowls, the better he will get. But it all depends on the guidelines he has received from the management,” he said.
The coach said Shami took his take to make a comeback, as he only wanted to play after getting 100% fit.
“He (Shami) is very old school. He only wanted to return once he was 100 percent. He is not someone who hides an injury and makes a comeback carrying niggles and gets injured again. He will not return until and unless he is bowling at full tilt.”
“He has missed one year, but now a fully fit Shami can play three more years,” Badruddin said.
