India unclear about Shami return date after knee issue

15.10.2024 - 09:15 channelnewsasia.com

BENGALURU : Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami has sustained a knee problem while building up fitness after heel surgery and the team is unsure if he can return in time for next month's tour of Australia, skipper Rohit Sharma said on Tuesday.Shami has not played for the national team since the 50-overs World Cup final against Australia last year and was close to full fitness before being ruled out of the three-test series against New Zealand that begins on Wednesday."To be honest, right now it's pretty difficult for us to take a call on him.

Whether he would be fit for this series or the Australia series," Rohit told reporters."He recently had a setback. He had a swelling in his knee, which was quite unusual...

We're keeping our fingers crossed."We want him to be 100 per cent fit more than anything else. We don't want to bring an undercooked Shami to Australia.

That's not going to be the right decision for us."India head to Australia for five tests beginning on Nov. 22 and Rohit said he was hopeful about Shami's participation."The physios, the trainers and the doctors have set a roadmap for Shami.

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