Mohammed Shami remains optimistic about selection in Indian team for Test series against Australia. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Mohammed Shami has been out of action since playing in the ODI World Cup 2023 final for India against the Australian team in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023.
Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami who has been out of action since November 19, 2023, due to injury has provided a big positive update about his fitness. According to the 34-year-old pacer, who finished as leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, he is 100% pain free.
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Shami bowled full tilt in the nets after India’s first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Sunday. This was a few days after skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that he had swelling in his knees which has affected his rehabilitation from an ankle injury sustained last year.
“I am 100 per cent prepared. I am trying my best to be fully fit before the tour. Plenty has been said about the (Australia) tour, there’s a lot of hype around it. We do want to make three wins in a row,” Shami told News18 on the sidelines of an event in Gurgaon on Monday.
Shami says he’s pain-free now and said it was a challenge staying away from the game for a long time due to fitness concerns.
“It’s difficult but this also a test. Whether it’s physical or mental, you have to go through a test. As a player, when you are going through a serious injury, staying patient is paramount. If you can control it, positive results will follow,” he said.
Rohit had said that he was not in favour of taking an “undercooked” Shami for the crucial series.
Shami wants to play a couple of matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for his state team Bengal to assess his fitness before the Australia Tests. He has not played for India since 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia on November 19 owing to the injury.
Shami is optimistic of India’s chances of completing a hat-trick of Test series wins on Australian soil. “We are hopeful and will try our best. You guys should pray too. This has become quite big. Our boys won there twice in a row, we should appreciate that too. In 2018 we won for the first time and then in 2020 half of our seniors were absent. This time, a full-strength India, will manage to prevail again,” he signed off.
