Mohammed Shami to be rested for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 opening match vs Delhi

Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami will not be a part of the playing XI for the upcoming Vijay Hazare tournament opener against Delhi, scheduled for Saturday, December 21, in Hyderabad. The right-arm bowler played the entirety of the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali campaign and a Ranji contest for the domestic side after a lengthy injury layoff.

The pacer was considered a late addition for the business end of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, depending on how his comeback goes. Team India skipper Rohit Sharma recently lamented about the lack of communication from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) regarding Shami's recovery. The latest news of his absence from the upcoming List-A game adds concern to the cause.

His inclusion in the Bengal squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy was touted as a major sign regarding his participation in the Australia tour.

"Bengal pacer Shami to be rested for Vijay Hazare Trophy opening match. India and Bengal veteran pacer Mohammed Shami will be rested for the Vijay Hazare Trophy opening match, it was announced on Thursday," a statement from Cricket Association of Bengal's Instagram read.

Mohammed Shami looked in good rhythm during the SMAT campaign for Bengal, where he picked up 11 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 7.85. However, he also reportedly struggled with swelling on his knee, a point that Rohit Sharma stressed, urging the authorities not to rush the pacer back into action.

"I understand he's playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, look, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens," Rohit Sharma said during a press conference in the Border-Gavaskar series (via ESPNcricinfo).

Bengal's next match is scheduled against Tripura on Thursday, December 26, the same day India's fourth Test (Boxing Day) against Australia commences in Melbourne.

Team India will be eyeing Mohammed Shami for the 2025 Champions Trophy

Mohammed Shami's chances of making it to Australia for the last two Tests seem bleak. Despite an overload on Jasprit Bumrah, Team India have an assembled pace battery Down Under to field in Melbourne and Sydney. With a List-A tournament to play, Shami will be looking to get into the groove and be prepared for the 2025 Champions Trophy instead.

India have a white-ball series against England in January, which marks a realistic avenue for the pacer to make his return, should his Vijay Hazare campaign proceed without any major hiccups.