Rohit Sharma - Mohammed Shami rift: India captain and pacer engage in 'heated exchange' over 'swollen knee' remark

Rohit Sharma - Mohammed Shami rift: India captain and pacer get into 'heated exchange' over 'swollen knee' remark (PTI/AFP)

Mohammed Shami's return to international cricket at the moment remains uncertain. A report emerged last week, which stated that the pacer is all set to be part of the Indian squad for the last two meetings between India and Australia at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A day later Rohit was asked about the same at the post-match press conference, which was after India's 10-wicket hammering against the Kangaroos in Adelaide. Then Rohit informed that the "door is open" for the pacer's return but warned of the swelling redeveloping in Shami's knee.

Shami last represented India at the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and has since been sidelined with an ankle injury, for which he also underwent a surgery. The pacer was expected to make a return for the home Test series against New Zealand but was unable to due to swelling in his knee.

The good news is Shami has returned to the domestic circuit and is doing exceptionally well but there are still question marks over his comeback to the international arena. In fact addressing the same during the post-match presser, Rohit on Sunday remarked: "Door is very much open for Mohammed Shami but we are just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali he again got some swelling in his knee, which obviously hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match."

Rohit also confirmed that Shami is being closely monitored by the BCCI medical team. "There are some professional who are monitoring him and we will take the call based on what those guys feel there. Because they are the one watching him every game. How he pulls up after the game, bowling four overs, standing 20 overs. So we just have to be very careful and like I said door is always open for him to come and play anytime," the skipper said.

However, a report in Dainik Jagran suggested that not everything is good between the Indian skipper and the pacer. The tension between the two dates back to the time when India were engaged in a three-match home Test series against New Zealand, which the former lost 3-0. Then Rohit had revealed of a swelling in Shami's knee.

The swelling in Shami's knee was not something unknown and was reported by several news publications, also mentioning how it could hamper his chances for the Australia tour, which has been the case. Shami had then had labelled the reports as "baseless rumours" and in an angry outburst on social media shared: "Why these type of baseless rumors? I'm working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor me have mentioned that I am out of the Border Gavaskar series. I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources. Please stop and don't spread such fake fake fake & fake news, especially without my statement."

Why these type of baseless rumors? I'm working hard and trying my level best to recover. Neither the BCCI nor me have mentioned that I am out of the Border Gavaskar series. I request the public to stop paying attention to such news from unofficial sources. Please stop and dont pic.twitter.com/0OgL1K2iKS

(@MdShami11) October 2, 2024

A latest report in Dainik Jagran stated that Shami and Rohit got into a "heated exchange" for the same, which was during the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru. Shami was then present at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and was also seen bowling to Shubman Gill and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar under close supervision of Morne Morket at the nets after the match.

"When Shami was at NCA, he met Rohit during the 1st Test in Bengaluru. During their meeting, the two had a heated exchange over the captain's remark on Shami when asked about his current status and availability for the New Zealand and Australia Test series," Dainik Jagran quoted a source as saying.

As mentioned by Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla earlier, the team Shami represents in the domestic circuit, the pacer has shed around six kilograms of body weight. Shami is playing at the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, where he played seven T20 games in 13 days.

In fact, Shami excelled in both bowling and batting in Bengal's quarterfinal action against Chandigarh, which was his eighth T20 match since his return from the injury. Shami hammered 32 off just 17 balls and bowled 13 dot balls in his four overs.

If we look at the overall stats, the 34-year-old played his eighth SMAT T20 game in 16 days and has bowled 31.3 overs in all matches combined. He also took part in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in which the pacer bowled 42.3 overs.