The return of Mohammed Shami to the Indian T20 International team is expected to be further postponed.The pacer has not fully recovered from the Covid infection that kept him out of the recently concluded series against Australia, according to Cricbuzz. The three T20I series against South Africa, which begins on Wednesday (September 28), may also be without Shami. Additionally, Deepak Hooda, who was unable to compete in the decider on Sunday in Hyderabad due to a back injury, also missed.

Shami has not travelled to Thiruvananthapuram, where the Indian team arrived on Monday evening, for the first game. Shami’s replacement, Umesh Yadav, has travelled with the team, indicating that he will also participate in the three-match South Africa series. Since Sunday, the South African team has already been in the city of Kerala.

It is understood that no decision has yet been made regarding Shami’s eligibility to accompany the Indian team to Australia for the World Cup. 

 “There is no medical update about the time that will take for him to be fully fit but currently it does not look good,”

a source in the know said. 

Shami is one of four standby players. After the most recent World Cup in the UAE, Shami has not played in a T20I. In July, he played his final international in an away ODI against England. 

In the meantime, Hooda has suffered a back injury, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that he will not be selected for Sunday’s third Twenty20 International against Australia in Hyderabad.Sunday’s BCCI statement read:

“Deepak Hooda wasn’t available for selection for this game owing to a back injury.”

BCCI

It now appears that the National Cricket Academy’s medical staff may need to focus on Hooda’s injury. Shreyas Iyer, who was announced as a standby for the series, may take Hooda’s place. He has also not travelled to Thiruvananthapuram.

However, there is currently no word on whether the World Cup squad will be altered. At this point, it appears that all of the chosen players will be able to travel.Following the conclusion of the South Africa series in Indore on October 4, the Indian team will depart for Australia on October 6.

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India’s first World Cup match is on October 23, but the tournament begins on October 16.

India squad for South Africa T20Is: 

Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Shreyas Iyer (likely)