Shamik Chakrabarty
Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, is set to finalize the Test squad for the England tour this Saturday. Among the crucial decisions being made, the status of Mohammed Shami remains a topic of intense discussion. The selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir cannot overlook Shami, whose experience and skill make him one of the most vital assets in India’s pace attack. Recent reports hinted at concerns over his fitness, particularly his ability to bowl consistently long spells. However, the Bengal Ranji Trophy captain, Anustup Majumdar, has dismissed these worries.
“Dduring our match against Madhya Pradesh last November,” Anustup shared with RevSportz, “Shami was closely monitored by a physical trainer and physios from the NCA. We had a detailed plan to manage his workload, including the number of overs he could bowl in a spell and the rest periods in between. Shami was fully involved in these discussions, and we stuck to the plan in the first innings.”
In the second innings, Shami decided to push his limits, and he passed the test with flying colors. “He bowled an eight or nine-over spell without any issues,” Anustup recalled. “The support staff wanted him to stop, but he insisted on continuing. He signaled that he was fine, and we won the match with him in perfect condition. If he can perform like this after a long break, I don’t see why he would struggle with longer spells in England.”
Shami’s absence was deeply felt during India’s five-Test series in Australia, where Jasprit Bumrah carried the bowling attack almost single-handedly. Despite the temptation to recall Shami, the team management held back, unsure of his full recovery. Shami was later reintegrated into the white-ball setup and gradually built up his workload before the Champions Trophy, where he took nine wickets in five matches, including a five-wicket haul.
However, his performance in the ongoing IPL has been below par, with just six wickets in nine matches and an economy rate of 11.23. In a recent interview, Shami clarified that he has fully recovered and is now focusing solely on his performance. While the BCCI’s medical team remains cautious about his ability to bowl more than 10 overs a day, Shami himself is confident. Dropping a bowler with 229 Test wickets at an average of 27.71 could be a risky move, especially with Bumrah likely to be rotated during the England series. A balanced rotation between the two might be the most practical solution.
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