"Would Have Kept Him Part Of The Team"- Ravi Shastri On Mohammed Shami Missing Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has made a huge comment on the absence of Mohammed Shami from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shami has been out of the team since the ODI World Cup in India and his expected return is not yet known.

He went for an ankle surgery in February 2024 and was out of the game until November 2024. He made a return to competitive cricket by playing the Ranji Trophy in November. He played in the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal but did not get the clearance for his fitness from the NCA to travel to Australia.

His absence cost India dearly in the series as Jasprit Bumrah fought a lone battle with the ball taking 32 wickets in the series. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna could not back Bumrah with the ball as was expected from him.

Would Have Monitored Him With Best Physios: Ravi Shastri On Mohammed Shami

Meanwhile, now with India having already lost the series, Ravi Shastri spoke to the ICC sharing his thoughts on Shami's absence from the series. Shami was initially deemed unfit to join the Indian squad in Australia.

"I would have kept him part of the team and made sure that his rehabilitation was done with the team. And then if we thought by the third Test match that no, this guy can't play the rest of the series, I would let him go" Shastri told the ICC Review.

The former Indian coach further said that in the best interest of the team, Shami should have been part of the team and should have rehabilitated with the team in Australia.

"But I would have brought him with the team, kept him, monitored him with the best of the physios and best of the advice even from international physios who are in Australia and seeing how he went. But I would have kept him in the mix," he added.

The former Indian head coach concluded by saying that Shami being there in Australia would have also lessened the workload on Jasprit Bumrah and his experience was much-needed.

Currently, Mohammed Shami is still out of the team. Whether he is fit enough to play in the white-ball series against England and then in the Champions Trophy is not yet known.