If he chooses to play more domestic matches after the Ranji match starting on Wednesday, he could take part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for over-20s starting on November 23, a day before the IPL mega auction begins.
Shami had been sidelined with an ankle injury and underwent surgery on his right foot in March earlier this year. He has spent most of the last six months at the National cricket Academy in Bengaluru, rehabilitating from surgery for an Achilles tendon injury with which he played in the ODI World Cup, where he was the leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps in seven games at an average of 10.70, then recovering from ankle swelling and a side strain.
If Shami proves his fitness in the upcoming four-day game, it is possible that he could be added to the Indian Test squad which currently features vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana as fast bowlers, along with Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed in the reserves.
Shami had been on track to make a comeback during the Bangladesh series at home in September, and was in line to be considered for the season-opening Duleep Trophy in September, until he suffered what Rohit Sharma later termed a “recent setback.” ” due to swelling in his left knee that “delayed his recovery a little.”
If Shami, one of the architects of India’s series win in Australia in 2018-19, is ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy entirely, his return is likely to come during the home white-ball series against England in January. -until next year’s Champions Trophy.
