The availability of India’s senior pacer, Mohammed Shami is a major doubt for India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa which starts on December 26, 2023.
According to a report by PTI, Shami had developed an ankle condition, but it remains unclear regarding the details of the injury or how it had developed.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the senior pacer was suffering from ankle pain which he played through in the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. The report also mentioned that the source of discomfort was when he landed on his right foot at the delivery point as well.
The report also suggested that the availability of the pacer is a ‘serious doubt’ for the Boxing Day Test match against South Africa.
The selection of Shami for the South Africa tour was a conditional one with the BCCI having stated previously that he (Shami) “is currently undergoing medical treatment and his availability is subject to fitness.”
READ MORE: Mohammed Shami Develops an Ankle Condition, Consults Sports Orthopaedic: Report
The first Test will be played on December 26 at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion and the second Test will be played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Capetown.
Other senior players like the skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah are set to feature for the five-day games against South Africa marking their first appearance after the 2023 World Cup finals loss against Australia.
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The Indian team will look to get back to winning ways as they aim to get more points in the World Test Championship standings. India started off their WTC cycle for 2023-2025 with a two-match series against the West Indies where they won the first game and drew the second. Currently, the side is at the second spot in the points table with 16 points and at 66.667 per cent of points won.
Before the red-ball games come in the Indian team will have the ODI leg as well with a five-match series against the South African side as part of their ongoing tour.
