Mohd Shami ruled out, Bhuvi in as replacement

Indian pacer Mohammad Shami who was set to return to international cricket against Australia after being on the sidelines for nine months has yet again suffered a setback as he was ruled out from the upcoming series.

Shami pulled his hamstring during the practice session prior to India’s first warm-up fixture against Western Australia XI on Friday. Later his condition was accessed and the medical reports came out today. The BCCI medical team confirmed that Mohd Shami has been ruled out of India’s tour of Australia due to a hamstring injury.

He sustained a Grade II injury to his left hamstring, which will restrict him from playing active cricket for about 4 to 6 weeks. Shami last played for India in the 2015 World Cup, where he played through a lot of pain. However, he performed at his best and was the leading wicket-taker for the team in the tournament.

Following the World Cup, he underwent a surgery for his problematic knee. His comeback was keenly awaited by Indian fans. Shami proved his fitness with a couple of domestic matches in December and had even shown some sparks of his old form with a spell of 3/18 against Hyderabad earlier this month.

He hoped of returning in the homes series against South Africa but, the rehabilitation didn’t go as planned. And, this injury would surely be a major dent to his confidence.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the replacement, who will join the team in Australia tomorrow. Previously it was reported that 22-year-old Gujarat pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been kept standby. But the BCCI today confirmed Bhuvi’s inclusion in the squad.