January 7, 2025: Former Indian head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri has voiced his strong opinion regarding the BCCI’s handling of Mohammed Shami’s injury during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia. Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri questioned why Shami was not brought to Australia as part of the squad, especially given his experience and the injury concerns faced by India’s pace attack.
Shami, who had last represented India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, had been sidelined after undergoing right heel surgery. His journey to recovery included a solid return to competitive cricket with Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, where he took impressive match figures of 7/156 against Madhya Pradesh. However, despite regaining fitness, Shami faced a setback when he developed mild swelling in his left knee, a result of the increased workload on his joints from bowling.
Shastri, who has long been an advocate for nurturing players back into fitness with proper care, expressed surprise that Shami was not included in the touring squad. He believes that Shami’s presence in Australia could have been crucial for India’s pace attack, which was left relatively inexperienced after the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Shami himself.
“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 said during the interview.
Shastri also pointed out that Shami should have been kept in the loop and monitored by top physios, including those in Australia, to ensure that he was fit and ready for the later stages of the series. “But I would have kept him in the mix,” he added, highlighting the importance of keeping Shami with the team in a rehabilitative capacity.
Further criticizing the BCCI’s communication, Shastri expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding Shami’s recovery process. “I was very surprised with the communication going on in the media as to what exactly happened to Mohammed Shami. Where is he when it comes to recovery? He’s been sitting in the NCA for I don’t know how long. Why can’t proper communication come out on where he stands?” he questioned.
The absence of Shami in the BGT was felt keenly, especially in the second half of the series, where India’s pacers, including Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, struggled to make a significant impact. Australia went on to win the series 3-1, with standout performances from Travis Head and Steve Smith, whose centuries proved pivotal.
Shastri firmly believes that had Shami been available for the final two Tests, it could have altered the series’ outcome. “Absolutely, there’s no question about that,” he said, emphasizing how crucial Shami’s experience and skills could have been in turning the tide in India’s favor.
While the BCCI’s medical team has been under scrutiny for its communication regarding Shami’s fitness, Shastri’s comments underline the growing concern over the management of key players’ injuries, particularly when it comes to large international tours.
Shami, meanwhile, continues to play in the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he has made a strong showing, and is expected to return to international action once fully fit.
