"Expect the unexpected" - Mohammed Shami bats in the nets ahead of much-awaited comeback
Team India's veteran speedster Mohammed Shami has been on the sidelines since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He underwent surgery for his Achilles tendon and was ruled out of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the subsequent 2024 T20 World Cup.
The 33-year-old has commenced his training as he gears up for his highly anticipated return. Shami was recently seen sharpening his batting skills in the nets.
Taking to his official Instagram handle on Thursday, August 8, Shami shared a video to give fans a glimpse of his batting practice. He captioned the post:
"When the bowler picks up a bat, expect the unexpected."
While Mohammed Shami is known to decimate the opposition with his bowling exploits, he has also proved to be quite handy with the bat on a few occasions. His unbeaten 56-run knock against England in the 2021 Lord's Test is still etched in the memory of ardent fans.
Mohammed Shami could return to India's Test team for upcoming Bangladesh series
Mohammed Shami was last seen in action during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. He was benched in the Men in Blue's initial games. However, he was added to the playing XI after all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured himself while playing against Bangladesh.
Pandya's injury proved to be a blessing in disguise for India as Shami dazzled with stunning performances in the showpiece event. The ace pacer bagged a seven-wicket haul in the all-important semifinal against New Zealand.
Shami finished as the leading wicket-taker of the edition, bagging 24 wickets from just seven outings. The seasoned campaigner could make his comeback during India's upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh.
The first Test of the series will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19. The second and final match will take place at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27.
After the red-ball fixtures, the two Asian teams are also scheduled to compete in a three-match T20I series, beginning October 6 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.