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Xtra Time Web Desk: After weeks of speculation, it has been confirmed that Mohammed Shami will not travel to Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shami’s absence was solidified following the announcement of Bengal’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The uncertainty surrounding Shami began with questions over his travel timeline to Australia. Initially, reports suggested he would join the Indian team later in the series, potentially for the final two Tests. At one point, there were even claims that his kits had already been sent to Australia, indicating he was close to boarding the flight. However, the situation took another turn when rumors of a rift between Shami and Indian captain Rohit Sharma surfaced.

Clearing the air, sources from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) confirmed that Shami is still not 100% fit. Despite playing eight domestic games recently, he hasn’t yet reached the physical readiness required for Test cricket. Rohit Sharma’s remarks during a press conference after the Adelaide Test reinforced this, as the Indian management was cautious about rushing Shami back prematurely, fearing a potential breakdown during a match.

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Reports now suggest that Shami himself feels unprepared for the rigorous demands of red-ball cricket at this stage. A BCCI insider revealed that Shami’s recurring knee swelling remains a significant concern, especially after recovering from ankle surgery that sidelined him during the previous IPL season. Considering his long-term fitness, Shami has opted to focus on upcoming white-ball tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 and the IPL, where Sunrisers Hyderabad secured him for ₹10 crore.

The 33-year-old pacer’s decision appears strategic, considering the challenges of Test cricket in Australia and the potential mental pressure stemming from the ₹10 crore price tag placed on him by his IPL franchise. Prolonged spells on hard pitches could aggravate his knee issues, which Shami understandably wants to avoid. He recently displayed commendable form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 11 wickets in nine matches at an impressive economy of 7.85.

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In his absence, India’s pace attack for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep are expected to play crucial roles as the team prepares for a demanding series.

Meanwhile, Bengal’s squad announcement for the Vijay Hazare Trophy sees both Shami and Mukesh Kumar included, with Sudip Kumar Gharami leading the side.

Bengal Squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy:

Sudip Kumar Gharami (C), Mohammed Shami, Anustup Majumdar, Abhishek Porel (wk), Sudip Chatterjee, Karan Lal, Shakir Habib Gandhi (wk), Sumanta Gupta, Subham Chatterjee, Ranjot Singh Khaira, Pradipta Pramanik, Kaushik Maity, Vikas Singh (Sr), Mukesh Kumar, Saksham Chaudhary, Rohit Kumar, Md Kaif, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Sayan Ghosh, Kanishk Seth.