Mohammed Shami slams reports of fresh knee injury as 'baseless rumors', insists he's working hard on his fitness

Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami slammed reports suggesting he could miss the upcoming tour of Australia due to fresh injury concerns, describing them as “baseless” and urging the masses to not fall for such fake news.

A report on The Times of India had claimed that Shami’s return to action could be delayed by another six to eight weeks after developing “swollen knees” during his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The additional time away from the cricket field would thus have put his chances of featuring in the marquee five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in danger.

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Shami, however, rubbished the report on his official X account, adding that he was working hard on his fitness “trying his level best to recover”.

“Why these type of baseless rumors? I’m working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor me have mentioned that I am out of the Border Gavaskar series. I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources.

“Please stop and don’t spread such fake fake fake & fake news, especially without my statement,” the Gujarat Titans pacer wrote on the microblogging platform on Wednesday.

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Why these type of baseless rumors? I'm working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor me have mentioned that I am out of the Border Gavaskar series. I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources. Please stop and don’t… pic.twitter.com/0OgL1K2iKS

— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) October 2, 2024

India’s Test series in Australia starts on 22 November in Perth.

Shami, who last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final last November, is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon surgery. He underwent the surgery in February.

The report that had earlier claimed Shami had suffered a fresh knee injury carried a quote from a BCCI source who suggested that the development was a massive blow for the NCA.

Read | BCCI secretary Jay Shah virtually confirms India pacer for Australia Test series

“Shami had resumed bowling and he was looking on track to make a comeback to competitive cricket soon. But this knee injury has flared up recently. BCCI’s medical team is assessing the injury but it may require quite a bit of time,” a BCCI source told TOI.

“It’s a jolt for the NCA medical team. They have been working on him for over a year. They have one of the best workload management systems in place. The medical team is trying its best to put him back in the park soon,” the source added.

Bumrah to play all three Tests vs NZ?

The Indian selectors will now hope Shami can get fit in time for the Australia tour as it could play a big role in deciding the team’s qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.

India had already been preparing a Plan B in case Shami doesn’t get fit in with Akash Deep making his debut against England earlier this year. The Bengal pacer has already impressed in only three matches as a third-choice fast bowler. He has taken eight wickets so far at an average of 23.12.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the selectors and whether they pick premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah for all three Tests against New Zealand. The New Zealand series at home starts on 16 October and Bumrah playing all three Tests looks highly unlikely given that he may be required to play in all five matches in Australia.