India faces a challenging situation with their key pacer Mohammed Shami ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand. This has raised concerns as the team prepares for a crucial five-Test series in Australia starting in November. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has provided updates on Shami’s recovery, expressing that the pacer’s return to international cricket might take longer than expected.

As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Shami’s Injury Setback

Shami’s recovery from an injury has hit a roadblock, with swelling in his knee complicating his progress. Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shami’s fitness remains a concern and that the team would not want to rush his return, especially with the important Australia series on the horizon.

“To be honest, it’s difficult to say when Shami will be fit for the New Zealand or Australia series,” Rohit said during a press conference ahead of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand. “He had a setback with swelling in his knee, which was unexpected as he was getting closer to full fitness. Unfortunately, this pushed his recovery back.”

Rohit emphasized the importance of not rushing Shami back onto the field too soon. “We don’t want to take a half-fit Shami to Australia. That wouldn’t be the right decision for him or the team,” he added. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

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The Long Road to Recovery

Shami has been struggling with injuries for a while now. After the World Cup last year, he was sidelined due to an Achilles heel injury. The recent knee issue only adds to his woes. Rohit acknowledged how tough it can be for a fast bowler to return to top form after such setbacks.

“For a fast bowler, missing so much cricket and then coming back to perform at his best is very challenging. We want to give him enough time to recover fully,” Rohit explained. The physios, doctors, and trainers have developed a plan for Shami’s recovery, which includes playing a few matches before he returns to international cricket.

India’s management will monitor Shami’s progress closely over the next few weeks before deciding if he’ll be ready for any part of the Australia series. “After this New Zealand series, we’ll assess where Shami is at and then make a call on when he might join us in Australia,” Rohit said. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Building a Strong Back-Up

In the meantime, Rohit and the Indian team management are focused on developing a strong pool of fast bowlers to ensure they have enough options in case of injuries. The New Zealand series has seen India carrying several reserve fast bowlers, including Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Reddy. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Prasidh Krishna, another promising fast bowler, was expected to be part of the squad but has suffered a setback during a Ranji Trophy match, limiting his availability. However, Rohit remains hopeful that the reserve bowlers will be ready when needed.

“The reason we wanted to have these reserve bowlers close to the team is that we are considering them for the Australia series. We want to monitor their workloads and see how they progress,” Rohit said. He emphasized the importance of having multiple fast-bowling options, especially given the injury history of some players. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Rohit continued, “It’s important to build a bench strength of fast bowlers. We don’t want to rely on just three or four options. We want to have eight or nine fast bowlers ready to step in at any moment. It’s essential to create depth in our bowling department.”

Preparing for the Future

Rohit explained that developing bench strength is not just about finding immediate replacements but also planning for the future. The goal is to have a strong group of bowlers who can step in whenever needed, especially in Test cricket, which places significant demands on fast bowlers.

“When we see talented bowlers, we want to bring them close to the team as quickly as possible. In a short time, they have shown potential, and we want to see if they’re ready for international cricket, particularly Test cricket,” Rohit said. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

He acknowledged that Test cricket is a completely different challenge compared to limited-overs formats and that the team is focused on identifying bowlers who can handle the demands of the longer format.

“We want to create a system where, if someone is injured, we don’t have to worry too much. We don’t want to depend heavily on a few individuals. We want to plan for the future and ensure we have the right players ready to step up,” Rohit added. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Fast-Tracking Talent

Rohit mentioned that sometimes it’s necessary to fast-track young talent into the team to strengthen Indian cricket. Players like Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana, who have shown promise, are being closely monitored to see how they might fit into the team’s plans for the future.

“These guys are talented, and we believe they can provide stability to the team moving forward. We want to understand their mindset and how they view Test cricket. Having them around the squad allows us to gauge their readiness for the challenges of international cricket,” Rohit said. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Rohit’s Own Fitness Concerns

Aside from Shami’s injury, there are also concerns about Rohit Sharma’s own participation in the Australia series. While India has named Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain for the New Zealand series, Rohit’s availability remains uncertain.

Despite this uncertainty, Rohit expressed confidence in Bumrah’s leadership abilities. “Bumrah has played a lot of cricket, and I’ve seen how well he understands the game. He has a good head on his shoulders, and while he hasn’t captained much, he’s been part of our leadership group for a while now,” Rohit said. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

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Bumrah has previously led India in a Test match and a couple of T20s, and Rohit believes that his experience and tactical awareness make him a strong leader. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness

Conclusion

As India faces challenges with key players like Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna dealing with injuries, skipper Rohit Sharma remains focused on building a strong back-up of fast bowlers. While Shami’s recovery remains uncertain, the Indian team is preparing for the future by developing a pool of talented bowlers who can step up when needed. As the team gears up for the tough Australia series, India’s bench strength in the fast-bowling department will be crucial to their success. As India sweat over Shami’s fitness