All attention will be focused on Mohammed Shami as Bengal competes against Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinal at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. A pressing concern remains whether the fast bowler will make the trip to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Reports suggest that his plans for the tour have been complicated once more following the recent injury announcement from India captain Rohit Sharma.

The current domestic white-ball tournament serves primarily as a preparatory platform for Shami ahead of the Test series in Australia, with the BCCI closely monitoring his fitness levels. Despite Shami's active participation with the Bengal cricket team since recovering from an ankle injury last month, where he has played in nine consecutive matches across two formats, Rohit's recent comments have left the BCCI deliberating on the appropriateness of sending Shami to Australia for the Test series, particularly after India's loss in the second match in Adelaide following a victorious start in Perth.

As reported by the Indian Express, Shami recently completed a fitness assessment. According to feedback from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), he is not expected to depart for Australia shortly. The BCCI remains concerned about the 34-year-old's ability to bowl extended spells in a Test match, prompting the Centre of Excellence staff to monitor Shami's fitness daily in Bengaluru.

What did Rohit say about Shami?

Following India's disappointing bowling performance in the second Test against Australia, where they suffered a 10-wicket defeat, concerns regarding Jasprit Bumrah's workload management have intensified. On Sunday, Rohit Sharma was inquired about the status of Mohammed Shami. The 37-year-old acknowledged that the possibility of Shami's return to the international team during the series remains open, but he also expressed caution, noting that Shami has recently experienced swelling in his knee while participating in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

"We are closely monitoring his condition because he encountered some knee swelling during the Syed Mushtaq Ali. This affects his ability to prepare for a Test match. We must exercise extreme caution. We do not wish to place him in a situation where he plays and subsequently experiences discomfort or injury. We mustn't exert pressure on him to perform for the team. Therefore, professionals are overseeing his situation," he explained.

Despite Rohit's statements, the Bengal team has not expressed any concerns regarding Shami, who has been instrumental for them in the white-ball format. After a year-long absence due to injury, Shami made his competitive return last month in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore, subsequently participating in all of Bengal's matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, including the pre-quarterfinal against Chandigarh, where he demonstrated his all-round capabilities.

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