Mohammed Shami, one of India’s premier fast bowlers, has finally addressed the swirling rumors about his absence from the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The pacer has been sidelined since the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury, leading to widespread speculation about his fitness and availability for the upcoming series.
Mohammed Shami responds to the rumours
Shami, however, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air. Recent reports from several media outlets had claimed that Shami would not be part of the crucial five-match Test series against Australia. In response, Shami dismissed these rumors as baseless and urged the public not to fall for misinformation.
Shami addressed rumors, saying he is working hard to recover, and clarified that neither he nor the BCCI have stated he’s out of the Border-Gavaskar series.
“Why these types of baseless rumors? I’m working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor I have mentioned that I am out of the Border-Gavaskar series,” Shami wrote on his X account.
“I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources. Please stop and don’t spread such fake, fake, fake, and fake news, especially without my statement, ” Shami added.
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
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A pivotal series for Indian cricket team
As Shami focuses on his recovery, the Indian cricket team faces significant challenges ahead. Their fast-bowling unit will be tested in the upcoming series against New Zealand, which kicks off on October 16. However, all eyes are on the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22. This series will be pivotal in determining the top contenders for the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
Both Shami and fellow pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be crucial if India is to maintain their strong position in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. Their performances in the Border-Gavaskar series could make or break India’s chances of reaching the final of the tournament.
As the countdown to the series begins, fans are eagerly hoping that Shami will be fit in time to lead India’s fast-bowling attack alongside Bumrah, as the team looks to secure a top spot in the WTC standings.