Cricket

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is nearing a return to action after a prolonged absence due to an ankle injury. The injury, sustained shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup, initially appeared minor, but subsequent swelling necessitated surgery.Shami's recovery has progressed steadily at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He resumed bowling last month and has gradually increased his workload. The selectors are closely monitoring his progress and will soon decide if he should participate in the Duleep Trophy matches starting September 5 to prove his fitness.The first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai remains the target for Shami's comeback. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has expressed optimism about his recovery, stating that "September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal."Even if Shami misses some or all of India's home Tests, he has ample time to regain his rhythm before the tour of Australia. The Ranji Trophy begins in October, followed by two first-class games for India A in Australia from October 31.Shami's return will be a significant boost for India, who have relied heavily on Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav in his absence. His experience and wicket-taking ability will be crucial in the upcoming Test series and the World Test Championship.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is eager to make his comeback through domestic cricket after recovering from an ankle surgery. Shami, who has been out of action since February, has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru but is yet to bowl at full throttle."It's difficult to say when I will be back. I am trying hard but hopefully you will get to see me in Bengal colours before I don the India jersey again," Shami said while being felicitated by the East Bengal club in Kolkata.The 33-year-old pacer said the injury came at a time when he was trying to recover from India's ODI World Cup final defeat. "We never thought the injury would be this serious. The plan was to address it after the T20 World Cup since we had the IPL and the ICC T20 mega event coming almost back-to-back after last year's World Cup. But it turned worse during the ODI World Cup itself and I also did not find it right to risk playing on with it," he recalled."Even the doctors could not fathom that the injury will take such a serious turn and will take so much time to heal," the pacer said.India's highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, Shami thus had to miss this year's IPL and also watched India's T20 World Cup triumph sitting at home. "To tell you frankly, I got tense when South Africa were pulling things back in the final. For a moment memories of our 2023 WC final loss returned to haunt me. But luckily Suryakumar Yadav took that great catch to fetch us the Cup and it took time to sink in that India have actually won it," Shami stated.Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was also honoured in the evening, also looked forward to Shami's comeback. "I am actually surprised to see Shami has played only 101 ODI matches. Somebody with his calibre and talent should have played many more," Ganguly said.The former BCCI chief remembered seeing Shami first while playing for Bengal in late 2000s. "Laxmi (Ratan Shukla) was the Bengal skipper then and I immediately told him that this boy (Shami) is an exceptional talent. I am happy to see him converting that talent into performance," he added."It's said that (Jasprit) Bumrah is the best pacer, but Bumrah has become the best because he got Shami at the other end. So you have pressure from both ends," Ganguly pointed out.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is poised for a comeback after a prolonged injury layoff. Shami last donned the Indian jersey in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where he emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker despite battling an ankle injury.Since then, Shami has been sidelined for the entire 2023 season, missing major events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the T20 World Cup, which India won in his absence. However, the pacer has recently resumed training and is determined to regain full fitness.In a recent interview, Shami's close friend and fellow pacer Umesh Kumar revealed the secret behind Shami's exceptional bowling speed: his love for mutton. "Shami can tolerate everything, but he cannot survive without mutton," Kumar said. "If he doesn't eat 1kg mutton daily, his bowling speed will reduce by up to 15 kmph."Meanwhile, India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar expressed optimism that Shami will recover in time for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. "Shami has started to bowl, which is a good sign," Agarkar said. "September 19 is the first Test, and that was always the goal."Agarkar also emphasized the importance of monitoring first-class cricket to identify potential additions to the Test team. "We will need some depth," he said. "Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, but there will be some conversation around it."Shami's return to the Indian team will be a significant boost for the side, especially with the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh and the ICC World Test Championship final on the horizon. The pacer's experience and wicket-taking ability will be crucial for India's success in these high-stakes matches.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is on the road to recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of competitive cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023. The 33-year-old pacer has undergone surgery for Achilles tendon and has recently resumed bowling practice.Shami's return to fitness is a significant boost for Team India, who are preparing for a busy schedule of white-ball and Test matches. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Shami has started bowling and is targeting a return to the Indian team for the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19."We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back. Shami has started to bowl, which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test (against Bangladesh) and that was always the goal. I don't know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that," Agarkar said in a press conference.Agarkar also emphasized the importance of building depth in the Test team, especially with the upcoming series against Bangladesh and Australia. "There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that," he said.Shami's return will provide a much-needed boost to India's bowling attack, which has been weakened by injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The pacer's ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace will be crucial for India's success in the upcoming Test series.

Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami is determined to make a strong comeback to international cricket after a brief injury layoff. The veteran fast bowler has been diligently training in the nets, showcasing his unwavering determination to regain his place in the Indian team.Shami's last competitive appearance was in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia, where he played through pain but still managed to impress with his pace and swing. He finished the tournament with an impressive 24 wickets in just seven matches, including three five-wicket hauls.Despite his exceptional performance, Shami was forced to miss the South Africa tour and the T20I series against Afghanistan due to an Achilles tendon injury. He underwent successful recovery surgery in February, which ruled him out of the IPL and the ICC T20 World Cup.With 448 wickets in 188 international matches, Shami is one of the most successful fast bowlers of the modern era. His ability to generate pace and swing makes him a formidable threat to any batting lineup.Shami's return to the Indian team will be a major boost for the side, especially with the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027. His experience and skill will be invaluable as India looks to reclaim the coveted trophy.

Mohammed Shami, one of India's premier fast bowlers, has faced significant challenges both on and off the field. Despite being India's leading wicket-taker in the last three ODI World Cups, his personal life has been marred by controversy.Shami's tumultuous separation from his wife, Hasin Jahan, made headlines when she filed a police complaint against him for domestic violence. She also accused him of match-fixing after allegedly receiving money from a Pakistani woman.While Shami was cleared of these allegations by authorities, his friend and fellow cricketer Umesh Kumar revealed on a podcast that Shami contemplated suicide during that time."Shami was shattered when the fixing allegations broke out," said Kumar. "He said he could tolerate anything but not accusations of betraying his country."Kumar recalled an incident where he found Shami standing on the balcony of their 19th-floor apartment at 4 AM. "I understood what was happening," said Kumar. "That night was the longest of Shami's career."Shami later received a clean chit from the investigating committee, which brought him immense relief. "He was probably happier that day than he would have been if he had won a World Cup," added Kumar.Shami himself opened up about his struggles during that period. "When you know the other person's actions are invalid, you should not leave your priorities," he said. "If I had not been the Mohammed Shami I am today, no one would have cared about my situation."Shami's resilience and determination have been instrumental in his recovery. He has continued to perform at the highest level, proving that even in the face of adversity, one can overcome challenges and achieve success.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has vehemently condemned Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami's derogatory remarks about Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations of reverse swing manipulation. Ali, in a YouTube video, expressed his disapproval of Shami's choice of words, labeling them as "indecent" and disrespectful.Ali emphasized the importance of respecting senior players, stating that Shami's comments were unbecoming of a professional cricketer. He urged Shami to exercise caution in his public statements, particularly when addressing respected figures like Inzamam."When Shami talks about Inzi bhai and calls him a cartoon, that's not right. Inzamam has led this country and captained it. Shami, your choice of words isn't good. We praise your bowling, but you should have chosen your words better. You didn't pick your words well, and that hurt me," Ali said.Ali's criticism stems from Shami's previous dismissal of Inzamam's claims that Team India was involved in ball-tampering during the T20 World Cup. Shami had labeled such allegations as "cartoonish" and accused Inzamam of attempting to deceive the public.Ali believes that Shami's response was disrespectful and undermined the dignity of cricketing discourse. He stressed that senior players deserve respect and that Shami's comments were inappropriate."Be a bit more careful, you can't just say anything anywhere. Whatever question is asked, you keep giving 'behuda' (indecent) answers. I'm using the right word, 'behuda (indecent)'. Aapne behuda zabaan use kiya hai (You've used indecent language). Your elders probably never taught you this," Ali said.Ali's comments highlight the importance of maintaining a respectful and professional tone in cricketing discussions. He believes that Shami's remarks were uncalled for and that they have damaged the reputation of the sport.

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has vehemently denied allegations that he took a dig at former teammate Amit Mishra in a recent interview. Shami took to social media to express his disappointment over "fake" media reports that claimed he had responded to Mishra's comments about Virat Kohli.Mishra had previously stated that Kohli had changed due to "fame and power," leading to speculation that Shami's comments about Kohli's friendship were a direct rebuttal. However, Shami has refuted these claims, emphasizing that he holds Mishra in high regard."Disappointed to see false information circulating about Amit Mishra. It's a humble request to verify news sources before publishing," Shami tweeted. He also urged the media outlet that published the false report to retract the story and issue a correction.In the interview, Shami had named Kohli and Ishant Sharma as his closest friends in the Indian team. "Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma are my best friends. They constantly kept calling me when I was injured," he said.These comments were interpreted by some as a response to Mishra's earlier remarks. However, Shami has clarified that his statements were not intended as a criticism of Mishra or Kohli."I respect Amit Mishra a lot as a cricketer. I don't share the same equation with him as I used to, but that doesn't mean I have anything against him," Shami explained.He added that he has maintained a close relationship with Kohli despite the latter's rise to stardom. "Virat is still the same person I knew when we first started playing together. He's always been supportive and encouraging," Shami said.Shami's comments have put to rest any speculation about a rift between him and Mishra or Kohli. He has emphasized the importance of verifying information before publishing it and has urged the media to be responsible in their reporting.

Mohammed Shami Opens Up About Hardik Pandya's Outburst, Expresses Shock Over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's T20I RetirementsIndian pacer Mohammed Shami has shed light on an incident during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season, where then-Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya shouted at him. Shami revealed that Pandya lost his cool after the senior bowler failed to catch a ball while fielding at third man."I usually don't respond to such things, but when things get too bad, then I do speak up," Shami said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel. "We have a good connection and are friends. He didn't realize it at that moment. We've known each other for almost 10 years. He told me, 'I swear, I don't know what I've said.'"Shami emphasized the importance of controlling emotions on the field, especially with millions of viewers watching. "Crores of people watch us on screen, we need to control our emotions," he said.In a separate interview, Shami expressed his surprise over the T20I retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. "Filling their places in the team is going to be a tough task," he said.Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is after India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2022, while Rohit followed suit shortly after. Kohli ended his T20I career as India's second-highest run-scorer in the format, while Rohit holds the record for the most centuries in men's T20Is.Shami's comments highlight the importance of maintaining composure on the field and the impact of senior players' retirements on the Indian cricket team.