Mohammed Shami to play remaining two Border Gavaskar Trophy games? BCCI gives HUGE update on speedster’s fitness

New Delhi: India’s top cricket authority, the BCCI, has released new updates on star speedster Mohammed Shami’s condition for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy taking place in 2024/25. Joyfully, they confirm that Shami’s heel injury as a thing of the past, completely healed now. However, they are also expressing concern about a recent knee swelling he’s battling with.

“The BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence has been working closely with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami on his recovery and rehabilitation after his right heel surgery. Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem.

The Board has affirmed that, sadly, Shami won’t be able to play in the final two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a swollen knee. Back in November, he worked hard, bowling as many as 43 overs in a Ranji Trophy game facing Madhya Pradesh for his Bengal team. After that, he was involved in every single one of the nine matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He even put in additional time for extra bowling sessions, all in an attempt to step up his bowling game for the anticipated Test matches.

“However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period.

“Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” the Indian Board said.

According to the report, the speedster will persistently work on his strength and stamina, while simultaneously strategizing to enhance his bowling efficiency, all in a bid to gear up for Test cricket.

“Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee,” the Indian board further added.

Shami, the celebrated cricketer, took a break from international cricket post his performance in the final round of ODI World Cup 2023, attributed to a heel injury that demanded surgical treatment. He made a comeback to the field during the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy’s fifth round. Despite playing in nine SMAT games, Shami didn’t make it into Bengal’s team for the first game of Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Indian Board affirmed that his participation in the forthcoming 50-over domestic tournament would hinge on his recovering knee’s progress.