Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri and Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting have voiced their concerns over Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 (BGT) in Australia. Both believe Shami’s presence could have potentially changed the outcome of the series, which India lost 3-1.
Shami’s Fitness and Recovery Journey
Mohammed Shami, who underwent ankle surgery after the 2023 World Cup Final, was expected to return to international cricket. Despite showing signs of readiness by participating in domestic red-ball matches, the BCCI medical team ruled him out before the fourth Test in Melbourne due to knee swelling.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Injury | Ankle (post-2023 World Cup) |
| Surgery | Early 2024 |
| Reason for Exclusion | Knee swelling |
| Series Result | 3-1 in favor of Australia |
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Shastri Criticizes Lack of Clarity from BCCI
Ravi Shastri expressed frustration over the unclear communication regarding Shami’s fitness status. He questioned why proper updates on his recovery were not provided.
“Why can’t proper communication come out on where he stands? A player of his ability should have been part of the team. Even if he wasn’t fully fit, monitoring him closely in Australia would have been a better approach,” Shastri remarked during an ICC Review session.
He suggested that Shami could have been flown to Australia, where his rehabilitation could have been handled by the best physios. Shastri emphasized that having Shami available for the latter half of the series could have strengthened India’s bowling attack.
Ponting’s Take on Shami’s Impact
Ricky Ponting shared similar views, highlighting that Shami’s experience and skill set could have made a significant difference in critical matches, especially in Melbourne and Sydney.
“If Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj were part of the starting XI, the series result might have been different,” Ponting stated.
Ponting also noted that even if Shami had bowled limited overs due to fitness concerns, India could have managed his workload with support from an all-rounder like Nitish Reddy.
Jasprit Bumrah Struggled Without Support
Both Shastri and Ponting pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah struggled with fitness toward the end of the series. They believe that Shami’s presence could have eased the burden on Bumrah, providing much-needed support during high-pressure moments.
Future Prospects for Shami
Mohammed Shami is now focused on regaining full match fitness as he prepares for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025. He has resumed playing domestic cricket for Bengal to sharpen his skills and maintain form.
The debate surrounding Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked discussions about BCCI’s player management strategies. Both Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting agree that better communication and injury handling could have led to a more competitive series outcome for India.
