Mohammed Shami to start rehab at NCA after successful heel surgery

India's pace spearhead, Mohammed Shami, will begin his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru following a successful heel surgery, the BCCI confirmed. This announcement comes after Shami underwent surgery on his troublesome right heel on February 26th. The pacer has not played for India since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final last November.

Shami showcased exemplary resilience throughout the tournament, emerging as the leading wicket-taker with a remarkable tally of 24 wickets in just seven matches. However, his valiant efforts were not devoid of pain, as he battled through the competition with the aid of pain-killing injections. His absence continued through the Australia T20Is, South Africa tour, and the England series.

Just before India's fifth Test against England starts on March 7th in Dharamsala, BCCI in a statement said, “Mohd. Shami successfully underwent surgery on 27^th February 2024 for his right heel problem. He is recovering well and will soon head to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to commence his rehabilitation process.,” read BCCI’s statement. 

Also read: Mohammed Shami unlikely to play T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean

Mohammed Shami undergoes successful surgery

Taking to social media platform 'X', Shami shared his optimism post-surgery, stating, “Just had a successful heel operation on my Achilles tendon! Recovery is going to take some time, but looking forward to getting back on my feet,”.

The 33-year-old will be missing out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 due to his ongoing rehabilitation, which is a big blow for Gujarat Titans. Some reports say the cricketer might also miss out on the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June.

Shami's long-awaited heel surgery went as planned, beginning the road to recovery for the Indian pace spearhead. Shami will channel his resilience during rehab at the NCA as he aims to force his way back into India's bowling plans.

Also read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes Mohammed Shami speedy recovery post-surgery