'I think it's high time somebody from NCA talked about him': Rohit Sharma's blunt response on why Mohammed Shami is not part of Test squad in Australia

Rohit Sharma has kept the door ajar for Mohammed Shami's comeback in Test squad but does not want him to board the flight to Australia without regaining full fitness.

Sports Tak

• Wed • 18 Dec 2024

India's wicketkeeper KS Bharat (C) and Mohammed Shami (R) share a light moment as captain Rohit Sharma (L) looks on during a break in play on day 4 of the ICC World Test Championship cricket final match between Australia and India at The Oval, in London.

Highlights:

Rohit Sharma wants someone from NCA to give an update on Mohammed Shami's fitness.

Rohit said that the door for Shami is often until and unless is 100 per cent fit.

Shami took 11 wickets in the SMAT 2024.

India's pace-bowling leader Jasprit Bumrah found support from other pacers in the second innings of Gabba Test as Australia lost seven wickets for just 89 runs. While the focus in the post-match press conference was on Ravichandran Ashwin who announced his retirement, one of the questions was about experienced pacer Mohammed Shami. The Bengal pacer has played one Ranji match, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 and now named in Vijay Hazre Trophy 2024-25 squad as well. However, there are still doubts over his fitness and skipper Rohit feels that someone at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is better equipped to answer questions about him.

"I think it's high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That's our national cricket academy where he is rehabing. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update. But look, I understand he's playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. The last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens," Rohit said.

"There's no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not a hundred percent, 200 hundred percent sure. We're not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he's okay to go and recovered, and play, I will be happy to have him," he added.

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Shami's performances after return

Shami in his comeback game after surgery took seven wickets including a four-wicket haul against Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash. In the recently-concluded SMAT, he claimed 11 wickets from nine games at an average of 25.36. His economy rate was 7.85 runs per over. He also registered his career-best T20 score, helping his side post a fighting total with a much-needed cameo.

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Shami's next appearance in domestic cricket

As India head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, Shami will play against Delhi at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad in their campaign opener on December 21.