India captain Rohit Sharma has all but ruled out Mohammed Shami’s participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, leaving the pacer in a tough spot after he previously dismissed injury rumors. Shami had earlier labeled reports of his fitness issues as “baseless,” but Rohit’s recent comments suggest that Shami’s return to international cricket may be further delayed.
Shami’s Injury Denial and the Reality

Over two weeks ago, a media report had circulated, claiming that Shami’s recovery from an ankle injury, which required surgery in February after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was hampered by a new issue—swollen knees. The report implied that Shami would likely miss the Border-Gavaskar series, scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22. In response, Shami strongly refuted these claims on social media, calling them “fake news” and urging fans not to believe unverified reports. He assured the public that he was working hard to recover and had not ruled himself out of the Australia series.
Rohit Sharma Confirms Injury Setback
However, in a press conference ahead of India’s home Test series against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma confirmed the injury concerns surrounding Shami, explaining that the fast bowler’s recovery has been complicated by an unusual swelling in his knees. This setback has slowed his rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, raising doubts about his readiness for the Australia tour.
“To be honest, right now it’s quite difficult for us to say whether he’ll be fit for the New Zealand series or the Australia series. He recently had some unusual swelling in his knee, which has put his recovery back,” Rohit revealed.
Caution Against Rushing Shami’s Return
Rohit emphasized the importance of giving Shami ample time to fully recover before making a return to international cricket. He noted that bringing an “undercooked” Shami to Australia could be a risky decision, particularly after the pacer has missed a significant amount of cricket this year due to his ankle injury.
“We don’t want to take an undercooked Shami to Australia. It’s tough for a fast bowler to come back after such a long layoff and immediately be at his best. It wouldn’t be ideal,” Rohit said, stressing that Shami’s fitness remains the team’s priority.
Domestic Matches Required to Prove Fitness
The India captain also outlined a roadmap for Shami’s return, explaining that the pacer will need to participate in domestic matches to demonstrate his match readiness before being considered for international selection.
“We want him to be 100 percent fit. The physios, trainers, and doctors have laid out a plan for him, and he will have to play a couple of practice games to prove his fitness before he can return to international cricket,” Rohit concluded.
Shami’s continued absence is a significant concern for India, with the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia fast approaching. The team will now have to wait and see if Shami can make a full recovery in time to strengthen India’s pace attack for the high-profile series.