Follow UsIndia’s ace paceman Mohammed Shami is recovering well from his ankle injury and is hopeful of making a comeback during the five-match Test series against England, starting from January 25 in Hyderabad.
"My rehabilitation is well on track and the medical experts at NCA are happy with my progress," he told the Times of India.
"There is slight stiffness in my ankle but that's fine. I have started my training sessions and I believe I will be able to make a comeback in the England series.”
The right-arm seamer, who hasn’t played for India since the ODI World Cup, was included in the Test squad for the South Africa tour but didn’t get the green signal from the BCCI Medical Team.
Talking about the series, which India drew 1-1, Shami said: "We did well in the second Test. Everyone contributed and our bowling effort was brilliant. It was a brilliant comeback by India to level the series.
“Unfortunately I missed it because of injury but I want to get back to competitive cricket as soon as possible. Hopefully, you can see me back in action against England."
Shami, on Tuesday (January 9), received the Arjuna Award, India's second-highest sporting honour after the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
The right-arm pacer was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, claiming 14 wickets at an insane average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20.