Mohammed Shami's recovery will be crucial for Team India with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 approaching. Meanwhile, former India cricketer and veteran commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has boldly expressed his views on the seasoned pacer's potential return as far as his selection in Border-Gavaskar Trophy is concerned.
Sanjay Manjrekar wants Mohammed Shami's selection for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India's superstar pacer Shami is currently recovering from an ankle injury that necessitated surgery earlier this year. The veteran pacer has been sidelined since the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup, held in India.
There are concerns surrounding Mohammed Shami's fitness, particularly with the challenging conditions that await India in Australia during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Shami, renowned for his accuracy and lethal bowling abilities, is currently under scrutiny regarding his preparedness for the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia. His exclusion from the recent three-match Test series against New Zealand, which was expected to serve as a fitness test, has further fueled these concerns.
As India prepares to face New Zealand, the focus is on whether Shami can withstand the physical rigors of Test cricket if he is selected for the Australia tour. Returning from injury and immediately heading to the demanding Australian conditions could pose significant challenges for the seasoned pacer.
Shami's recovery from injury has raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether it is too soon to push him into the demanding Test tour. However, Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Shami's exceptional skills make his inclusion a priority, even if he is not fully fit for the upcoming Australia tour.
The cricket expert observed that most fast bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, require match practice to regain their form. However, Shami's mastery over the ball enables him to deliver match-winning performances without extensive preparation with the red ball.
“I'm not sure about the attitude and approach of the selectors team management with Shami because he's like, you know, blue-chip company. You want him fit, and if he's even 90% fit, because he's such a skilled bowler. He's not as physical in the way he bowls as a Bumrah who needs to be, you know, in peak fitness,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
Manjrekar continued by emphasising that Shami's ability to produce exceptional performances with minimal effort makes him a valuable asset for the Australia tour, even without demonstrating full match fitness. He urged the Indian cricket team management to approach Shami's comeback with a different strategy, as his presence is crucial for India's success in Australia.
“So, I would go for Shami and play him whenever he's fit and not think long-term. You said he doesn't need overs behind him. He's not that kind of bowler. No, I mean you need overs, but let's not put him through that stringent test of proving match fitness because all his magic is in the way he releases the ball. Sometimes he hardly runs in and creates the effect on the pitch. So, with him, I'll be a little sort of handling him differently,” Manjrekar concluded.
