With his fitness becoming a topic of widespread speculation, seasoned Indian pacer Mohammed Shami addressed concerns on Monday, asserting that he is “100 per cent pain-free” and remains in contention for India’s upcoming Test series against Australia, set to begin next month. Despite rumors surrounding his condition, Shami expressed confidence in his recovery and his readiness for the high-profile tour.”Completely Pain-Free”: Mohammed Shami Delivers Major Update Amid Injury Concerns.
Shami bowled at full intensity in the nets after India’s opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. This practice session came just days after Indian captain Rohit Sharma revealed that Shami had been dealing with knee swelling, which had slowed his recovery from an ankle injury sustained last year. However, Shami was optimistic about his progress, stating, “I am very happy with how I bowled yesterday. I had been bowling from a half run-up before that to avoid putting too much strain on my body. But yesterday, I decided to go full tilt and bowled at 100 per cent.”
The 34-year-old further reassured fans and selectors, saying, “The result was good. I am 100 per cent pain-free now. There has been a lot of speculation about whether I will make it for the Australia series, but there’s still time before the tour.” Shami was speaking at an event organized by Eugenix Hair Sciences, where he discussed both his recovery and his cricketing journey.”Completely Pain-Free”: Mohammed Shami Delivers Major Update Amid Injury Concerns.
The five-match Test series against Australia, a key fixture of the World Test Championship, is scheduled to start on November 22 in Perth. Shami’s availability for the tour is crucial for India, given his experience and ability to thrive in Australian conditions. Rohit Sharma, however, had recently mentioned his reluctance to take an “undercooked” Shami to Australia, emphasizing the need for full fitness before such a critical series.
In preparation for the Australia tour, Shami expressed a desire to play a few matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Bengal to further assess his fitness. “The only thing on my mind is to ensure that I am fit and as strong as possible for the Australia series,” Shami said. “I can see what kind of attack we need in Australia, and I need to spend more time on the ground. I want to play a couple of Ranji matches before I go,” he added.”Completely Pain-Free”: Mohammed Shami Delivers Major Update Amid Injury Concerns.
Shami has not played for India since the 2023 ODI World Cup final on November 19, where India faced Australia. His injury since then has raised concerns, but Shami’s recent statements suggest that his recovery is progressing well, and he could still be a key player in India’s upcoming Test campaign.