India’s senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami suffered a lower back injury during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 while playing for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. Shami hurt himself while attempting to stop a ball with his foot, raising fresh concerns about his fitness. This injury adds to the pacer’s long history of setbacks, including a heel injury that sidelined him for eight months and a knee injury that ruled him out of the first half of the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite receiving clearance from the BCCI medical team to bowl in domestic cricket, Shami seems far from ready to endure the demands of red-ball cricket. His latest injury raises questions about his readiness for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. According to Inside Sports, Shami experienced severe pain after pulling his back, prompting BCCI’s Nitin Patel to intervene. While no official update has been provided, the absence of a detailed diagnosis suggests he may have avoided a serious injury.
However, Shami’s Test comeback appears increasingly unlikely. The BCCI’s decision to exclude him from the Australia-bound squad seems justified, as he struggles to complete even four-over spells. For now, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal will form the pace attack for the Border-Gavaskar series.
India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah addressed Shami’s situation after the first Test win in Perth, expressing hope for his recovery. Bumrah emphasized Shami’s importance in the red-ball format and revealed that the team management is closely monitoring his progress. If his recovery stays on track, Shami could still feature later in the series.
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