India significantly missed the presence of Mohammed Shami during their five-Test series in Australia, and fans are now expressing hope that the talented fast bowler will be fit enough to participate in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. In response, Shami appears determined to demonstrate his readiness to return to international cricket.

In a recent Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout match against Haryana in Vadodara, Shami excelled by taking three wickets, making him Bengal's leading wicket-taker in the match. Notably, he bowled his full quota of 10 overs for the first time in this year's tournament. In his previous two matches against Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, he recorded figures of 1/40 and 1/28, having bowled eight overs in each of those games.

Haryana, batting first, set a target of 289/9, aided by half-centuries from Path Vats and Nishant Sindhu. Shami claimed the wickets of opener Humansu Rana, wicketkeeper Dinesh Bana, and Anshul Kamboj during the match.

Shami's injury saga

Shami was initially anticipated to join the Indian squad in Australia for at least the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, if not sooner. In November, he bowled 43 overs during the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. Subsequently, he participated in all nine matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India later confirming that he had also undertaken additional bowling sessions to enhance his bowling volume in preparation for the Test matches in Australia.

However, the 34-year-old missed Bengal's opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as India captain Rohit Sharma indicated in Brisbane that Shami was experiencing swelling in his knee. The BCCI ultimately declared that Shami would not participate in the series due to this swelling.

It remains uncertain whether Shami will be selected for India's forthcoming T20I and ODI series against England, as well as the Champions Trophy scheduled for later. He has not participated in international cricket since the final of the 2023 World Cup on November 19. Shami's last Test appearance was in the 2023 WTC Final, resulting in his absence from the entire 2023/25 WTC cycle. The team's unexpected home whitewash by New Zealand and their 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy indicate that the 2025 WTC Final will be the first not to include India.

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