Mohammed Shami Out Of IPL 2024 Citing Left Ankle Injury
New Delhi: India veteran speedster Mohammed Shami will likely to miss the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League because of a left ankle injury. Shami’s injury will require surgery which will take place in the United Kingdom.
Shami has been out of action since the ODI World Cup 2023 where India lost the final against Australia. The 33-year-old batter was part of India’s Test squad against South Africa but his availability was subject to fitness. The BCCI later in a press release stated that Shami had not been cleared by the Medical Team and the fast bowler was then ruled out of the two Tests.
“Shami was in London in last week of January to take special ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he can start light running and take it from thereon.
“But the injection hasn’t worked and now the only option left is surgery. He will shortly leave for UK for surgery. IPL seems out of question,” a senior BCCI source said PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Shami, who was one of the architects of India’s stupendous World Cup campaign with 24 wickets, played through pain as he had problems with his landing but didn’t let it affect his performance.
Earlier, Shami was honored with the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting accolade, expressed gratitude for the recognition. His stellar performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets in seven games, earned him this prestigious award.
However, India are currently playing the five Test match series against England where Rohit Sharma & Co. are leading by 2-1. Apart from Shami, Virat Kohli is also not featuring in this series citing personal reasons.
The development raises a question mark about the injury rehabilitation management programme planned by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for Shami.
Now it is highly unlikely that the pace bowling artist would be able to make a comeback before India’s Test matches at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand (October November).
His target could be the marquee away series against Australia.