Mohammad Shami is back in action at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) following his recovery from surgery on his right Achilles tendon in February. His return to the Indian team, however, remains uncertain at this stage. Currently, he is undergoing rehabilitation overseen by Dr. Nitin Patel, the Head of Sports Science and Medicine at NCA, along with Strength & Conditioning coach Rajinikanth.
While Shami has returned to training, a definitive timeline for his comeback to the national side cannot be determined yet. He is expected to return to Bengaluru soon to continue his rehabilitation, as confirmed by his childhood coach Badruddin, who is pleased with the progress Shami has made. However, Badruddin believes that Shami will need more time before he is fully prepared to make a competitive return.
Shami has started bowling. Not with full run-up or full tilt but has started releasing the ball without any discomfort in the nets. This is a good sign because bowling activity has begun,” says Badruddin.
Shami’s last appearance for India was in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19. Since then, he has been absent from competitive cricket. He did not participate in the South Africa tour, the home Test series against England, the 2024 Indian Premier League, or the current T20 World Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled India’s upcoming home schedule, confirming that the Men in Blue will welcome Bangladesh for a series comprising two Tests and three T20Is in September-October. Back in March, Secretary Jay Shah had indicated that the Bangladesh Tests were earmarked for Shami’s potential comeback. However, the exact timing of his return will depend on his full resumption of bowling activities.
“No doubt he will be back in India colours very soon. You would have seen the progress he has been making via the social media videos and the post. He is working very hard but more clarity will come when bowling resumes at full tilt and how the body reacts after that,” says a source close to the cricketer.
Similar to their approach with Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) tends to reintroduce players through shorter formats after extended rehabilitation periods. This strategy is expected to apply to Shami as well, considering he has been out of action for more than six months.
Ahead of the Bangladesh Tests, India’s schedule includes limited-overs tours to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in July. It remains uncertain whether the 33-year-old pacer will complete his Return to Play (RTP) protocol in time for any of these assignments.
As of now, the Zimbabwe tour seems improbable for Shami. If he doesn’t achieve full match fitness before the Sri Lanka tour, there’s a possibility he could target the three T20Is against Bangladesh in October for his comeback. While returning during the Bangladesh Tests hasn’t been entirely ruled out, stakeholders are cautious about immediately involving him in Test matches without ensuring his readiness.
“There is a very important away tour of Australia this year where India play five Tests. Mohammed Shami is going to be a very crucial player for the side during that assignment and a very cautious approach is going to be followed. NCA has used T20I and ODIs for players returning from long injury lay-offs in the past and the route is likely to be followed with Shami too.
“It is always better to ease a player back into competitive cricket, especially for a fast bowler. Again, that’s a safety-first plan but you never know. If he bowls without discomfort for an extended period in the nets and participates in match simulations without any trouble, Bangladesh Tests could well be the series of his return,” says a well-placed source.
Shami has been diligently focusing on improving his fitness, incorporating a variety of mobility exercises into his routine. His training regimen emphasizes core activation, strength enhancement through compound movements, and he has made significant strides in his recovery. Notably, there has been considerable improvement for the seamer who, not long ago, relied on crutches for walking.
