Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his concerns regarding the management of Mohammed Shami’s injury, expressing surprise that the pacer was not included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite ongoing fitness issues. Shami has been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury that required surgery, followed by complications from a knee injury that led to swelling and further delayed his return to competitive cricket.

Shastri criticized the lack of clear communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about Shami’s recovery status, stating, “Where is he when it comes to recovery? He’s been sitting in the NCA for I don’t know how long.” He emphasized that Shami’s presence could have significantly impacted India’s performance in Australia, especially with the series tied at 1-1 before heading into the fourth Test.

Despite Shami’s impressive domestic performances, including bowling in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was officially ruled out of the series due to a knee flare-up. Shastri believes that keeping Shami with the team for rehabilitation would have been beneficial, allowing him access to top physiotherapists and potentially enabling him to contribute later in the series. Ultimately, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, missing out on a chance to compete in the World Test Championship final.