Shami grappled with an ankle injury, and insider sources suggest he’s yet to resume bowling.

“Shami hasn’t begun bowling yet. He’ll need to prove his fitness at the NCA (National Cricket Academy). His participation in the first two Tests against England seems doubtful. Yadav, post his hernia surgery, may require around eight to nine weeks to begin training. Hopefully, he’ll recover in time for the IPL,” cited a source as reported by IE.

England arrives in India for a series of five Tests, kicking off at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

The second Test, slated at the Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, is set to start on February 2nd, during which Shami is anticipated to remain absent.

Although Shami’s name was in the squad for the Test series against South Africa, his participation hinged on his fitness.

The BCCI appears inclined not to rush Shami’s return until he attains full fitness. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj could lead the pace attack in the absence of the 33-year-old during the home series against England.

Shami showcased an exceptional performance at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where despite India’s unbeaten streak of 11 games, they fell short in the final against Australia. The 33-year-old emerged as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets in 7 games, claiming the golden ball in a memorable campaign marked by stellar performances from Rohit Sharma and team, culminating in a disappointing loss at the final stage.