Senior player Mohammed Shami is missing from India’s first Test against England. It’s happening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, starting Thursday, January 25. Shami won’t be at the second Test in Visakhapatnam either, from February 2 to 6.
This 33-year-old was left out of India’s first two Test squads against England. Why? He’s healing an ankle injury. Everyone’s hoping he’ll be ready for the last three England Tests in the series.
Mohammed Shami hasn’t been on India’s team since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He performed impressively there, taking the most wickets (24 in seven matches). Despite being named initial player for the South Africa test series, Shami didn’t pass the fitness test.
With Mohammed Shami out, Mohammed Siraj stepped in as Jasprit Bumrah’s partner for the first England Test in Hyderabad. India, bowling first after losing the toss, chose three spinners – Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel. Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t picked.
Mohammed Shami took injections during World Cup due to chronic heel issue: Reports
A few weeks ago, a story published by the news agency PTI stated that Shami had to take daily injections to manage a persistent heel problem in order to compete in the ODI World Cup.
“Shami has a chronic left heel issue. A lot of people don’t know that he took injections regularly during World Cup and played the entire tournament through pain,” a former Bengal teammate of the pacer was quoted as saying by PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“You must understand that as you grow older, recovery from each niggle or big injury takes that more time,” the source added.
Shami, a vital part of India’s Test and ODI teams in recent times. This quick bowler has participated in 64 Tests, securing 229 wickets averagely at 27.71, including six times taking five wickets. In one-day games, he has knocked out 195 opponents in 101 matchups, having a mean of 23.68 with five instances of five-wicket hauls.
Shami tops the chart as India’s principal wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup, boasting 55 wickets from 18 matches. He averages 13.52 and an economy rate is 5.13. Not too long ago, he was honored with the highly esteemed Arjuna Award.
