'Obviously He Will Join': Mohammed Shami Will Fly To Australia For 2nd Test If He Proves Hit Fitness

Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami made a successful return from injury, taking four wickets in a Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. This performance could boost India's chances in their upcoming tour of Australia. 

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Mohammed Shami could be flown to Australia if he is fit

Mohammed Shami, playing his first red-ball game in over a year, bowled 19 overs and took four wickets, including the key scalp of MP captain Shubham Sharma. His impressive comeback has raised hopes of his return to the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. 

However, the national selection committee will closely monitor his fitness and wait to see how his body holds up in the second innings before making a final decision. If Shami proves his fitness, he is likely to join forces with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test in Australia. 

This would be a significant boost to India's pace attack, which has been struggling in recent times. Shami's return would add depth and experience to the bowling lineup, making India a more formidable opponent for Australia.

The Ranji Trophy match ends on November 16 and he could join the squad before the first Test, beginning in Perth on November 22, but that could be cutting it too fine.

In case Shami goes, he will get to play a two-day day/night practice game against Prime Minister's XI.

More than the wickets he took on Thursday, the team management and national selection committee along with the BCCI's Sports Science & Medical Team want to check how his body holds up.

Shami, who has not played a competitive game after the ODI World Cup final on November 19 last year, had undergone an ankle surgery. Just when he was about to return for the three-Test series against New Zealand, the senior fast bowler developed a swelling in his knee delaying his comeback.

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It is understood that despite naming an 18-member squad for Australia, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the team management would include Shami the moment the BCCI's head of Medical and Sports Science team, Dr Nitin Patel, declares him fit.

A Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) source told PTI that national selection committee member Ajay Ratra had specifically come along with NCA medical team head Patel to watch Shami bowl. Their feedback will be sent to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir before a final call is taken.

A BCCI source said, "Obviously, Shami was asked to play this game keeping in mind that the next round of Ranji Trophy will only start on January 23 after the Test season is over.

"So, the selectors had only one match to check his fitness. He has bowled 19 overs in multiple spells and fielded for most part of the 57 overs. He bowled 90 dot balls. But he will again have to bowl and field (in the second innings). Suppose he bowls another 15 to 18 overs in the second innings, that's a very decent amount of overs bowled.

"But the biggest test would be whether he again feels any pain after four days. If the NCA medical team green-lights his fitness, obviously he will join before the second Test," the BCCI source added.