Rohit Sharma stressed that the last word on Mohammed Shami’s availability to the Indian team, belongs to the physios at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
“About Shami, it’s time somebody from the NCA talks. Those guys are the ones who need to give us an update. I understand he is playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee.”
“The last thing you want is a player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. There is no way we want to take that chance unless we are not 100 per cent, 200 per cent sure. The door is open if the guys at the NCA feel he is okay and we will be happy to have him,” the Indian skipper said.
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Shami’s last appearance for India was the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. Upon his return from the knee injury, Shami has represented Bengal in Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has been picked for the side’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.
The pacer was expected to join the Indian team during the home series against New Zealand. But the final stretch of his recovery took longer than expected, stalling his return with reports suggesting he was experiencing swelling around his knee.