Mohammed Shami ruled out of IPL 2024, will undergo surgery on his ankle

Mohammed Shami, the seasoned fast bowler for India, is set to miss the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season following the decision that he must undergo surgery in the United Kingdom for a left ankle injury. This development was disclosed by a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday to PTI, casting a shadow on the player's immediate cricketing engagements.

Shami, 33, who has been a crucial figure in India's bowling lineup, has not participated in the current Test series against England. His last appearance on the field was during the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November, where he played a pivotal role in India's journey through the tournament.

According to PTI, the decision for surgery comes after an unsuccessful attempt to remedy the injury with special ankle injections in London during the last week of January. Despite hopes that Shami could resume light running three weeks post-injection, the treatment did not yield the expected results, leading to the conclusion that surgery is the necessary course of action. "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," said the BCCI source, who preferred to remain unnamed.

Throughout his decade-long career, Shami has been a key player for India, contributing significantly across all formats. His impressive tally includes 229 Test, 195 ODI, and 24 T20 wickets. The recent setback not only questions the effectiveness of the injury rehabilitation strategy employed by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) but also puts Shami's participation in future series in doubt, notably the home matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand as well as the highly anticipated series in Australia.

Critics argue that the NCA's conservative approach to Shami's injury management has proven inadequate. "Shami should have gone directly for surgery and that should have been NCA's call. Just two months of rest and injections wouldn't have worked well and that's what has happened. He is an asset and the Indian team would need him in Australia," the source elaborated.

As Shami prepares for surgery, his absence will undoubtedly be felt in the upcoming IPL season and potentially in India's cricket schedule that follows the marquee T20 league.

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(With PTI inputs)