Rohit Sharma on Mohammed Shami: The current Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become an intense contest day by day. After Australia posted a mammoth total, they struggled in their second innings, managing to score only 89 runs, facing a formidable Indian pace attack.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, when asked about veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s availability for the ongoing series, said it all depends on the approval of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Speaking after India’s draw in the third Test against Australia at the Gabba, Rohit left the decision regarding Shami’s fitness to the NCA, where the pacer is undergoing rehabilitation after ankle surgery in November 2023. “I think it’s time for someone from the NCA to talk to him about it. It’s our National Cricket Academy, where he is rehabilitating. Those guys need to come and give us some kind of update. But look, I understand he is playing a lot of cricket at home, but there are some complaints about his knee as well,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.
Rohit on Shami’s fitness for Australia
“The last thing you want is for players to come here and then get injured in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that happens,” Rohit quipped, referring to the injury-hit series. Shami, who has been absent from international cricket since India’s ODI World Cup final in November 2023, has returned through domestic cricket. After surgery and a rigorous rehabilitation program, the veteran pacer made a competitive comeback in the Ranji Trophy, followed by a solid performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Despite Shami’s domestic success, the Indian team management is reluctant to risk his fitness without a clear green signal from the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Rohit reiterated that only with a 200 per cent assurance from the academy will the team consider bringing him into the squad.
“We don’t want to take any risks unless we are 100 per cent, 200 per cent sure. We’re not going to take any chances. But yes, as I mentioned in the last press conference, the door is open. If the NCA feels he can recover and play, I’d be happy to take him in.” Rohit said.
Bumrah’s Heavy Workload: Indian Pacers Struggle to Provide Support
India’s current bowling attack is heavily dependent on Jasprit Bumrah, who has shouldered most of the workload in the series. In the three Tests so far, Bumrah has bowled long spells and performed impressively, but he has not received enough support from fellow pacers Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana.