The ongoing tension comes at a time when Shami has been widely regarded as a potential game-changer for an inexperienced Indian bowling attack. Rohit was confronted with fresh questions regarding Shami’s availability following India’s heavy loss in the second Test at Adelaide, which leveled the series 1-1
Shami, with his fiery pace, has been touted as a vital addition to India's bowling arsenal, especially given the team's current struggles. However, the situation was complicated by a report in The Hindustan Times, relaying claims from the Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran that there is unrest between the two players, potentially affecting Shami’s chances of inclusion.
The report cites a series of events leading to this tension, beginning last month when India was engaged in a Test series against New Zealand. Rohit had publicly stated that, contrary to the belief that Shami was fully fit, he was dealing with swelling in his knee. Shami had strongly refuted earlier media reports suggesting a new injury, labelling them as "fake" and reiterating his readiness to return to international cricket.
Dainik Jagran further reported that Rohit and Shami had a confrontation after New Zealand’s victory in the first Test. The exchange reportedly took place when the two met during Shami’s visit to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. According to the report, the conversation was far from cordial. The tension escalated following Rohit's media interaction prior to the first Test in Bengaluru, where he stated, "Right now, it is pretty difficult for us to make a call on whether he will be fit for this series or the Australia series. He recently had a setback - he had a swelling on his knee, which was quite unusual. He was in the process of getting fit - getting close to 100 percent - and he had a swelling in his knee. That put him back a little bit in his recovery, so he had to start again fresh."
The key question now is whether Rohit harbours reservations about including Shami in India’s Test setup. The report questions the lack of clarity around Shami's participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite his strong form in limited-overs cricket, where he has impressed in domestic competitions. He played a crucial role in Bengal’s quarterfinal victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He displayed his all-round abilities, scoring a quick-fire 17-ball 32 and contributing with the ball by bowling 13 dot balls in his four overs.
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