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The absence of Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav
from the Indian cricket team for the Twenty20 Internationals against
Afghanistan is a major blow to the team’s chances of winning the series.
Veteran pacer Shami missed the South Africa tour because of an ankle ailment,
and he hasn’t played since the World Cup final. With the caveat that he was
“subject to fitness,” Shami was added to India’s Test team for their
match against the Proteas. Shami was removed from the lineup one week prior to
the Boxing Day Test in Centurion because he did not receive the go-ahead from
the BCCI’s medical staff.
As of right now, Shami is expected to miss at least
the first two Test matches against England, which begin on January 25 in
Hyderabad and February 2 in Vizag, respectively. The NCA-bound bowler has not
resumed bowling. “Shami hasn’t even started to bowl, he will have to go to
NCA and prove his fitness. He looks doubtful for the first two Tests against
England,” The Indian Express quoted a source as saying.
Despite being a home series, Shami’s influence will be
comparatively smaller than it was against South Africa in the England Tests.
India was outclassed by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion, thus they felt his
absence. India may have benefited from having the elite pace combination of
Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj after South Africa hammered over 400
in their opening innings, their batsmen making Shardul Thakur and Prasidh
Krishna useless. But since India is probably going to go with a bowling lineup
that consists of two pacers and three spinners, Shami’s absence might not be
felt too much.
Another victim on the list is Suryakumar, the top T20
hitter for India. The world’s top-ranked Twenty20 international hitter, Surya,
injured his ankle in the third Twenty20 international match against South
Africa and hasn’t played since. Surya has suffered a fresh setback as he now
need surgery to treat a hernia that has been bothering him for some time. With
his recent injury setback, SKY’s recovery from an already anticipated absence
could take up to two months.
“In Yadav’s case he will take more time than
expected. After his hernia operation it might take up to eight-nine weeks for
him to start training. Hopefully he will be fit during the IPL,” the
source stated further