Published By: Sayan Guha

3 Reasons Behind Mohammed Shami’s Delayed Comeback- The Story So Far

Mohammed Shami’s journey back to international cricket was eagerly anticipated, but his exclusion from India’s XI in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens raised eyebrows

Eden Gardens was abuzz with expectation. The stage was set, the fans were prepared, and all eyes were on one man: Mohammed Shami. After months of restoration and sustaining in domestic cricket, the speedster's long-awaited return to international cricket appeared to be on track at home. However, cricket, like life, has a habit of rewriting scripts. As India's starting XI was revealed, Shami's name was missing, leaving supporters perplexed and the buzz replaced with doubts. What delayed the paceman from taking the pitch? It turns out that the solution is a combination of injuries, strategy, and time.

Injury woes: The long road to recovery

Shami's struggles began immediately following the 2023 World Cup when an ankle injury interrupted his progress. Surgery was unavoidable, and the recuperation took months, causing him to miss the 2024 IPL and T20 World Cup. While supporters anticipated him to return sooner, setbacks during his rehabilitation pushed his homecoming back even more. In late 2024, reports stated that his knee was swollen, ruling him out of the Test visit to Australia.

Despite returning to domestic cricket and playing in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shami's fitness has not yet reached its optimum. The National Cricket Academy helped him heal, but the injury's residual consequences appear to have hampered his growth.

Strategic rest for the Champions Trophy

India's selectors are focused on the big picture: the Champions Trophy. Shami's fitness is vital for the competition, especially because Jasprit Bumrah is also injured. The goal is to ease him into action rather than thrust him right into a high-intensity T20I series.

India went with three spinners at Eden Gardens, which shelved the paceman. Even though the pitch in Kolkata suited spin, the decision was most likely made to ensure Shami did not overexert himself. A little niggle or signals of pain during training may have encouraged team management to exercise caution. After all, suffering another injury may compromise his availability for the Champions Trophy.

Match fitness or tactical call?

Shami's return to Eden Gardens, which is important to his heart, looked like the right script. However, cricket is not always about feeling. Team combinations are crucial, and India's choice to fill the lineup with spinners left little place for Shami.

Another dimension to this narrative may be about rhythm. While domestic cricket is a fantastic way to rebuild match fitness, the intensity of international cricket is a different story. Shami may not have yet found his stride to deliver at full speed. Giving him ample time to get back into his groove and making sure he peaks when it counts most appears to be the top objective of team management.

The wait continues

Fans who had hoped to see Shami play at Eden Gardens were surely disappointed. However, his choice to remain on the sidelines is most certainly a planned effort to safeguard one of India's most important assets.

With four games remaining in the series, Shami might still make the playing XI as he works towards full-match fitness. Until then, India will rely on its spinners and young pacers to keep the ball moving.