India will not rush Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket for the final two Tests in Australia unless they are “200% sure” about the seamer’s fitness, captain Rohit Sharma said on Wednesday.
Shami has not played international cricket since the 50-over World Cup last year because of an ankle injury that required surgery.
The 34-year-old, automatically chosen as India’s second pacer when fit, returned to domestic cricket to prove his fitness.
Lack of support for pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in Australia led to demands for Shami’s recall, but Rohit was cautious about backing off the bowler, who reported swelling in his knee on his recovery.
“I understand he is playing a lot of cricket at home but there have also been some complaints about the knee,” Rohit said after India drew the rain-marred third Test in Brisbane on Wednesday.
“The last thing you want is for the player to come here and leave in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.”
He said he would follow the advice of doctors at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where Shami underwent his rehabilitation.
“Unless we’re not 100%, but 200% sure, we’re not going to take any risks… the door is open if those NCA guys feel he’s OK to recover and play. happy to have you.”
Bumrah is currently the leading wicket-taker in the five-Test series in Australia, but Mohammed Siraj has not been as impressive as his new ball counterpart.
India will take heart from third seamer Akash Deep’s bowling at the Gabba, where the right-armer took three wickets to go with a defiant 31 that helped India avoid a follow-on.
