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Mohammed Shami has declared that he is “on
track” in his ankle injury recuperation and that he intends to return for
India in the five-Test series against England that begins on January 25.
Subject to fitness, Shami was added to India’s Test
team for the two matches in South Africa. Not being able to recover in time, he
did not go with the team and was eventually dropped from the series, which
India won 1-1 in the second Test held in Cape Town. He was left off of India’s
Twenty20 Indian team roster for their January 11, 14, and 17 matches against
Afghanistan.
“My rehabilitation is well on track and the
medical experts at NCA are happy with my progress,” he told Times of
India. “There is slight stiffness in my ankle but that’s fine. I have
started my training sessions and I believe I will be able to make a comeback in
the England series.
“We did well in the second Test,” Shami said
about India’s performance in South Africa. “Everyone contributed and our
bowling effort was brilliant. It was a brilliant comeback by India to level the
series. Unfortunately I missed it because of injury but I want to get back to
competitive cricket as soon as possible. Hopefully you can see me back in
action against England.”
On January 9, Shami was in Delhi to accept the Arjuna
Award, which is the second-highest athletic accolade in India after the Major
Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. With 24 wickets at an average of 10.70 and a strike
rate of 12.20 in just seven games, he was the leading wicket-taker at the 2023
ODI World Cup.
Five Test matches are scheduled between India and
England: Hyderabad (Jan 25–29), Visakhapatnam (Feb 2-6), Rajkot (Feb 15–19),
Ranchi (Feb 23–27), and Dharamsala (Mar 7–11). In the current World Test
Championship cycle, India is presently ranked second behind Australia; this
will be their third series.