India hopes that Mohammed Shami will be ready for the Tests against Bangladesh

The selectors have been informed about Shami’s progress and the decision that he should play at least one of the Duleep Trophy matches, starting on September 5 in Anantapur, to prove his fitness will be taken soon.

Shami is currently in his final phase of rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Last month, he resumed bowling for the first time since the surgery and is understood to have slightly increased his swing after being pain-free.

Before India traveled to Sri Lanka in July, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had confirmed that Shami had “started bowling” and the first Test against Bangladesh starting on September 19 in Chennai was the “goal” for his return.

“We know very well who these guys are, there are some injured at the moment and we hope they will come back,” Agarkar said. “Shami has started bowling which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don’t know if that is his recovery time, he will have to ask the NCA guys about that.

“There are a lot of Tests coming up. We will need depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a long time, they are the obvious ones. But there will be a discussion about it. I got a lot of first-class cricket. We are coming to build guys like that.”

Late last month in Kolkata, Shami expressed hope of playing for Bengal first before returning to the national team, while informally taking part in several motivational and fitness programs for the country’s players.

The ankle injury, which surfaced soon after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was believed to be less serious. Shami was included in the Indian squad for the two-match Test series in South Africa in December-January as he is fit. He was then withdrawn from this trip.

Shami returned to the NCA hoping to recover for the home Tests in England in February-March, but was advised to undergo surgery after swelling his right ankle, forcing him to miss the series and IPL 2024 for Gujarat Titans.

Shami has been a key player in India’s run to the ODI World Cup final, taking 24 wickets in just seven matches at an average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20.