Major blow for IPL 2024: Mohammed Shami rules out due to ankle injury

Gujarat Titans fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of next month's IPL 2024 due to a left ankle injury, for which he will undergo surgery in the UK, a BCCI source said on Thursday. However, Gujarat Titans has not made any official announcement at present.

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According to the PTI report, Shami, who took the most wickets in the ODI World Cup and the last IPL season, is out of IPL 2024.

Shami could not even take part in the IND vs ENG series

33-year-old Shami is not part of the ongoing Test series against England. He last played for India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November. "Shami was in London in last week of January to take special ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he can start light running and take it from thereon," a senior BCCI source said. In such a situation, Shami will not be able to play IPL 2024.

IPL 2024 seems out of question

"But the injection hasn't worked and now the only option left is surgery. He will shortly leave for UK for surgery. IPL seems out of question," Shami, who was one of the pillar of India's brilliant World Cup campaign with 24 wickets, played the final despite the injury, but after the tournament ended, he could not play any cricket match. He rehabbed at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

NCA's conservative approach has not worked properly

Shami, who was recently honored with the Arjuna Award, has taken 229 Test, 195 ODI, and 24 T20 wickets in his decade-long career. There is now very little chance for Shami to make a comeback before India's Test matches at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand (October November). Along with this, questions are being raised regarding workload management as to how such a serious injury can occur.

It is reported that NCA's conservative approach has not worked in Shami's case. Shami got the injections done on the suggestion of NCA, but now he could not recover. If his injury had been understood on time, perhaps surgery would have been done and he would have been on his way to regaining fitness.

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Shami may be out for 8 months

According to PTI, after the surgery, Shami will not be able to play IPL 2024 as well as T20 World Cup. It is difficult for him to be fit even for the Bangladesh and New Zealand series to be held in September-October. However, BCCI is hopeful that Shami can be a part of the Test series against Australia at the end of the year.