In what comes as a huge blow to Gujarat Titans ahead of their upcoming campaign, their veteran paceman, Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the IPL 2024 season. Mohammed Shami who is 33 years old possesses a wealth of bowling experience as he is capable of taking key wickets in the crucial junctures of the game. The right-arm fast bowler performed extraordinarily well for Gujarat Titans in the last two seasons.
The senior pro accounted for 20 dismissals in IPL 2022 season. He gained confidence from that season and then he pitched it up with an even more impactful bowling performance for the team when it mattered the most in IPL 2023 season and won the Purple Cap. Shami accounted for 28 dismissals at a superb bowling average of 18.64. Meanwhile, a BCCI source told PTI that Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the forthcoming campaign due to a left ankle injury.
Big blow for Gujarat Titans as Mohammed Shami ruled out of IPL 2024
The BCCI source further added that Mohammed Shami would require surgery in the UK. The experienced campaigner jetted off to the UK to consult doctors about his injury and was advised to undergo surgery for the betterment of his health. “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 the UK for surgery. IPL seems out of the question,” a BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
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Though there hasn’t been any official confirmation from Gujarat Titans, the Ahmedabad-based franchise is permitted to pick up a replacement. The franchise should make sure that they don’t pick a player whose base price is more than Shami’s. GT will have to look for an apt replacement for Shami and they will do so by turning to the list of players who went unsold during the IPL 2024 auction held in late December.