Mohammed Shami heading to London for medical consultation; may require an additional month for complete recovery.

India's prominent fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, is set to fly to London to seek expert consultation on the ankle injury he sustained during the 2023 ICC World Cup. The injury has kept him sidelined since India finished as runners-up in the ODI World Cup. Shami's remarkable performance in the tournament earned him the prestigious Arjuna Award for taking the most wickets.

The National Cricket Academy (NCA) has been closely monitoring Shami's recovery progress. Although he missed the five-match Test series against England due to his lingering injury, reports suggest that the NCA is content with the progress he has made so far. Shami will be accompanied by Nitin Patel, the head of NCA's sports science department, to London. Patel has been actively involved in overseeing Shami's rehabilitation at the academy.

In addition to Shami, there are plans within the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) to send wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant to London. Pant, who faced a car accident in 2022, underwent surgery and has been recuperating at the NCA Bengaluru. Speculations are circulating that Pant might make a comeback for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 if his recovery progresses well.

Alongside Shami and Pant, Indian opener Prithvi Shaw is also on the path to recovery, needing an additional month before returning to competitive cricket. Shaw, who suffered a knee injury last year while playing for Northamptonshire, is currently undergoing agility and acceleration tests at the NCA. In the One-Day Cup last year, Shaw showcased his prowess by smashing a hundred, leading Northamptonshire to a six-wicket victory over Durham.

The comprehensive rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the NCA for Shami, Pant, and Shaw highlight the commitment of Indian cricket authorities to ensure the players' complete recovery before they return to the competitive arena.