With the 17th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) almost in a month’s time, former champions Gujarat Titans have been handed a major blow. The 2022 IPL champions, Gujarat Titans will miss the services of Indian pacer Mohammed Shami after he continues to sit out with an ankle injury.
The Indian pacer, who sustained the knee injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 in India would continue to sit on the sidelines for the upcoming edition of IPL as he requires a surgery. A BCCI source told PTI that Shami requires a surgery as the injections hasn’t worked for him.
“Shami was in London in the last week of January to take special ankle injections and he was told that after three weeks, he can start light running and take it from thereon. 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,” a senior BCCI source said on the condition of anonymity to PTI.
“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 further added.
The 33-year-old was one of the architects at the ODI World Cup 2023 and finished as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps to his name. With his brilliant performance, the Indian pacer was also conferred with the Arjuna Award.