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On Sunday, December 8, India suffered a crushing defeat against Australia in the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. After bundling out the visitors at the score of 175 in their second innings, Australia chased the 19-run target with ease in 3.2 over to extend their clear record in pink-ball Test as well as, level the series 1-1.
After a defeat in the game which looked out of their way from the opening day itself, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma shared a big update on Mohammed Shami. The Indian pacer has been out of the national side for over a year now having last featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. However, he is currently featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rohit Sharma affirmed that “the door is open” for him.
Rohit Sharma shares BIG update on Md Shami during BGT 2024-25
Speaking at the post-match press conference, when asked about Shami joining Team India in Australia, Rohit Sharma replied, “Definitely that door is very much open but we’re just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he again got some swelling in his knee, which obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match. We want to be very, very careful, we don’t want to bring him here in a situation and play him and then he pulls up or something happens.”
“We want to be more than a hundred per cent sure with him, you know, because it’s been such a long time that he’s played. And to be fair to him, you know, we don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team,” Rohit Sharma added. “So there are some professionals who are monitoring, they are there with him and we will take the call based on you know what they say. They’re the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game after bowling for four and standing for 20 overs. So we just have to be very, very careful. But like I said, that door is very much open for him to come and play,” he continued.
Watch Rohit Sharma speak about Md Shami:
It is to be seen that in Shami’s absence, there is a lot of pressure over pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. In the two Test matches down under, Bumrah has been forced to overbowl. On Day 2 of the pink-ball Test, Bumrah also struggled with an injury, but seemed fine after being attended by the team physio. The Men in Blue will aim to come out goo and take a lead as they next take on Australia in the third Test, set to be played from Saturday, December 14 at The Gabba in Brisbane.
