Jasprit Bumrah was included while fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami made a comeback as India announced their squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma will lead the side in the competition with Shubman Gill acting as his deputy. “We are waiting on Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and will know his status in early February from BCCI’s medical team,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar said during the press conference. The same squad will also take on England in the three-match ODI series with Harshit Rana included for the ODI series only keeping Bumrah’s fitness in mind.

Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will be the two wicketkeepers for both Champions Trophy and the England ODI series. There’s no place for pacer Mohammed Siraj though, as India have opted to go with left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 50-over matches and will be played across Pakistan and Dubai. The biggest match of the tournament between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on February 23 in Dubai. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India’s last league match will be against New Zealand on March 2.

Group A of the tournament features current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan, along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa.

Before the ICC Champions Trophy, India will play a three-match ODI series against England which will be kickstarting on February 6.

Before the ODIs, a five-match T20I series against England will start from January 22 onwards. The five-match T20I series will commence on January 22 in Kolkata. The second and third matches will be held on January 25 and 28 in Chennai and Rajkot, respectively. The fourth game of the series will be played on January 31 in Pune. Mumbai will host the final match of the T20I series on February 2.

India’s squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.

(With agency inputs)

Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami will be rested for Bengal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Delhi on Saturday in Hyderabad, the Cricket Association of Bengal announced on Thursday. Shami, who last played for India at the 2023 ODI World Cup, recently returned to domestic cricket after a lengthy injury layoff due to ankle surgery. He has since been recuperating at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. While Shami made an impressive comeback taking seven wickets to help Bengal clinch their first win of in this season’s Ranji Trophy, he took nine wickets in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

However, concerns have remained about swelling on his knee, which surfaced during the domestic T20 competition.

After the drawn third Test in Brisbane, Rohit Sharma sounded miffed after being persistently asked about an update on Shami’s availability.

“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing… Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update.” “I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. We won’t take any risks unless we are 200% sure about his fitness.” Shami’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is seen as a key step towards determining his availability for the upcoming international assignments, including the Champions Trophy.

Seamer Mukesh Kumar, who was in Australia as one of the bowling reserves, is also part of the Sudip Kumar Gharami-led Bengal.

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

India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday said it is high time the NCA provides clarity on Mohammed Shami’s fitness, emphasising that he won’t risk fielding the pacer in the ongoing Border Gavaskar series until they are sure of his condition. Shami made his comeback from injury during the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has also been named in Bengal’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, starting Saturday. “It’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him. Really, that’s our National Cricket Academy where he is doing his rehab. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” Rohit said during the post-match press conference.

Following the pink ball Test in Adelaide, Rohit had revealed that Shami had developed swelling in his knees while playing in SMAT.

“But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home. But there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.

“So, there’s no way we want to take that chance. Unless we are not 100%, 200% sure, we are not going to take any risk,” he added.

The 34-year-old Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, was forced into the long layoff due to an ankle injury that needed surgery.

Just before his much-anticipated comeback against New Zealand, he developed swelling in the knee, delaying his return.

Rohit said the door remains open for Shami if he is completely fit.

“Like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we’ll be happy to have him,” said Rohit.

Last week a BCCI official had told PTI that Shami himself feels he is not ready to take the rigours of red ball cricket right now.

“The swelling seems to come and go. He himself is keen on playing more and more domestic cricket. He can then bowl at least three spells and 10 overs per game,” the BCCI source had said.

The wait and suspense over Mohammed Shami’s participation in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia continues. The pacer missed around a year of action due to injury before making his comeback through domestic cricket. Shami is now awaiting his India comeback which might come during the ongoing tour Down Under. What has kept things unclear so far is Shami’s fitness status, which is being closely monitored by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI is currently waiting for the National Cricket Academy’s (NCA) nod on Shami’s fitness before taking a call on the player’s BGT 2024-25 selection, as per a report in The Indian Express.

“The selection committee is waiting for the NCA’s fitness clearance report on Shami. He travelled to Bengaluru to give a fitness test. He played the Ranji Trophy as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, where he looked good. His kit is also ready. We are just waiting for the approval from the NCA,” a BCCI official said the news organisation.

On the other hand, a PTI report claimed that Shami is all set to take the flight for Australia with his fitness clearance from NCA being a mere formality.

Former chief coach Ravi Shastri on Saturday said the “quicker” Shami reaches Australia, “the better” it is for Team India, to ease the pressure on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The 34-year-old pacer has been on a comeback trail having spent nearly one year away from top-flight cricket nursing an ankle injury, as he is building up his bowling workload while representing Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

“Quicker Mohammed Shami reaches here, (the) better (it is) for India. He is playing a lot of domestic matches,” Shastri said during commentary on day two of the second Test.

“You can see the pressure (on the opposition) when Bumrah is bowling and others are bowling. There is a lot of pressure on Bumrah.” Everything seems to be falling in place for the seasoned pacer who has played seven matches, taking eight wickets for Bengal in the domestic T20 competition.

Shami has bowled several measly spells, indicating that he has regained his rhythm and control, as he continues his comeback under the close monitoring of National Cricket Academy officials and a national selector.

(With PTI Inputs)

Senior India speedster Mohammed Shami is set to compete in the last two Tests of the ongoing series against Australia with his playing kit already headed Down Under and the fitness clearance from the NCA’s medical team being a “matter of formality”. While the Brisbane Test (from December 14) could be touch and go for the Bengal veteran, it is a foregone conclusion that he will be seen in Melbourne on Boxing Day (December 26) in the fourth Test. A source close to the cricketer said that the NCA “fitness certificate” will come very soon.

“Shami’s India kit has already been dispatched to Australia. He will complete Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 assignment and then leave,” the source told PTI.

The 34-year-old Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, was forced into the long layoff due to an ankle surgery that needed surgery.

Just before his much-anticipated comeback against New Zealand, Shami developed swelling in the knee delaying his return.

Since the knockout round of Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy is taking place in Bengaluru, it is expected that the NCA (National Cricket Academy) medical team head Dr Nitin Patel and Strength and Conditioning trainer Nishant Bordoloi would be assessing him after Bengal finishes its campaign in the National T20 championship.

“Shami will be playing the pre-quarter final for us against Chandigarh. He will join us in Bengaluru by tomorrow. However, I am not sure if he will be available if we qualify for quarters or go the distance. Guess he will be fit and available for last two Australia Tests,” Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who has had a good look at his premier bowler, told PTI.

Shukla echoed sentiments of former India head Ravi Shastri, who feels that Shami is needed as early as possible in Brisbane.

Shukla said Shami had done the right thing by deciding to play SMAT after bowling 43 overs in a Ranji Trophy game in Indore against Madhya Pradesh.

“He has already shed around six kilograms of body weight. He has played seven T20 games in 13 days. If he plays pre-quarters it will be eight games in 16 days.

“Shami himself wanted to play fair amount of domestic cricket and inform NCA how his body reacts,” Shukla, a former ODI player, said.

India won the first Test in Perth, while the second game, a day-nighter, is currently in progress in Adelaide.

File photo of Mohammed Shami

Indian pace veteran Mohammed Shami made a triumphant return to competitive cricket after a year-long injury layoff, taking seven wickets in Bengal’s thrilling 11-run win over Madhya Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy match on Saturday. Shami’s performance included a four-wicket haul in the first innings, and he also contributed with the bat. His form is a positive sign for Team India, which is heading to Australia with a relatively inexperienced pace attack for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, starting next week in Perth.

In the match, Madhya Pradesh won the toss and elected to field first. Bengal posted a total of 228 runs, with Shahbaz Ahmed top-scoring with a quickfire 92 off 80 balls, including 16 fours and a six. Aryan Pandey (4/47) and Kulwant Khejroliya (4/84) were the standout bowlers for Madhya Pradesh.

In response, Madhya Pradesh were bowled out for 167 runs. Subhranshu Senapati (47 off 121 balls, with six fours) and Rajat Patidar (41 off 59 balls, with eight fours) were their leading scorers. Shami impressed with figures of 4/54, while Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Mohammed Kaif claimed two wickets each, and Rohit Kumar chipped in with one. Bengal secured a 61-run first-innings lead.

Bengal capitalised on their advantage in the second innings, scoring 276 runs. Writtick Chatterjee (52 off 106 balls, with six fours) and Wriddhiman Saha (44 off 115 balls, with three fours) were the top scorers, while Shami contributed a vital 37 off 36 balls, including two fours and two sixes. This set a target of 338 runs for Madhya Pradesh.

In their chase, Madhya Pradesh fell agonisingly short, bowled out for 326 runs. Skipper Shubham Sharma (61 off 116 balls, with six fours), Venkatesh Iyer (53 off 95 balls, with eight fours), and Subhranshu Senapati (50 off 110 balls, with six fours) scored half-centuries, but the rest of the batting line-up faltered.

Shami, though expensive in the second innings, took 3/102 in 24.2 overs. Shahbaz Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/48 and was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his all-round performance.

Shami’s return to domestic cricket marks an important step in his comeback journey. He had been in sensational form during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in seven matches at an average of 10.70, including three five-wicket hauls. His best performance came in the semi-final against New Zealand, where he claimed 7/57. However, after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the final, the team redeemed themselves with a T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean, though Shami was forced to watch from the sidelines due to injury.

With his domestic cricket return, Shami will be looking to reclaim his spot in the Indian team ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy and the Indian Premier League in 2025. If included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami’s experience would be invaluable, particularly given India’s inexperienced pace attack. The bowling line-up features Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and promising talents such as Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep.

Shami has an impressive Test record in Australia, with 31 wickets in eight matches at an average of 32.16, including best figures of 6/56.

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

Mohammed Shami was dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since November last year. Despite showing positive signs of recovery, Shami has not been included in Bengal’s squad for the next two matches of the Ranji Trophy, where they will face Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Last month, Shami mentioned at an event that he had resumed bowling at full intensity and that the recovery process was yielding good results. However, his absence from the squad indicates that he is still not ready for competitive cricket. While it was the ankle injury that bothered Shami for the past one year, now the pacer has got a fresh injury that has further extended his comeback.

Shami has now developed a side strain that has ruled him out of Bengal’s next two Ranji Trophy matches, stated Times of India in a report. This means that Shami’s chances of being included in the India squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22, has all but ended. He was not named in the team announced for the Australia tour, but there were hopes that a good show in domestic cricket might see him take the flight with the team.

Earlier, Shami suffered an ankle injury, which forced him to stay away from the field since November. He was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, with 24 wickets in just seven games at an average of 10.70 and economy rate of 5.70, with best figures of 7/57. He took three five-wicket hauls in the tournament and defied all the pain and fatigue he was facing.

Bengal squad: Anustup Majumdar (capt), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Writtick Chatterjee, Avilin Ghosh, Shuvam Dey, Shakir Habib Gandhi, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Ishan Porel, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Kaif, Rohit Kumar, Rishav Vivek.

India’s squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

(With ANI Inputs)

The BCCI on Friday night announced the all-important Indian cricket squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in Perth on November 22. Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain in the Rohit Sharma-led India side. Injured veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has not been included. In his place, young pacers Harshit Rana has earned a maiden Test call-up while fast -bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy is also in.

Domestic cricket veteran Abhimanyu Easwaran has also been called up. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are the two wicket-keepers. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli form the core of the top-order. In the middle-order, KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are there. Apart from Bumrah and Rana, the other pacers are Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna. 

The three spin-allrounders in the squad are Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has not been selected for the Tour. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav was unavailable for selection for the tour of Australia since he has been referred to The BCCI Centre of Excellence after the end of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand for long term resolution of his chronic left groin issue. 

Fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed have been named as the reserves.

After the completion of the 3-match Test series against New Zealand, India are set to play a 5-match Test series in Australia, part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting 22nd November in Perth.  

NEWS

Squads for India’s tour of South Africa & Border-Gavaskar Trophy announced #TeamIndia | #SAvIND | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Z4eTXlH3u0

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 25, 2024

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.

India’s squad for 4 T20Is against South Africa: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal

Hardik Pandya (left) and Mohammed Shami.© X (formerly Twitter)