Mohammed Shami struggled with ankle discomfort throughout his extraordinary World Cup 2023 campaign

Mohammed Shami stood out as a key player for Team India in the 2023 World Cup, concluding the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with an impressive total of 24 dismissals in just seven matches. Shami's outstanding achievement was magnified by his initial omission from the preferred playing XI as he failed to find place in first four matches.

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However, destiny intervened when the dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an injury during the match against Bangladesh, thrusting Shami into action. The outcome was a record-breaking performance that solidified Shami's status as the highest wicket-taker in the history of India's ODI tournaments.

Moreover, in recent revelations indicate that despite his stellar performance, Shami reportedly endured ankle discomfort, especially experiencing pain during the landing phase while bowling. As per Cricbuzz reports, Shami has been dealing with a persistent ankle niggle that lingered during the World Cup.

Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Shami was rested from India's T20I series against Australia, aligning with the strategic rest plan for most players who participated in the 2023 World Cup. Recently, the ICB (Indian Cricket Board) announced the squads for the eagerly awaited tour of South Africa, including 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is, and 2 Tests. While Shami's name is part of the squad for the red-ball series, there is a crucial asterisk attached.

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"Mr. Mohd. Shami is currently undergoing medical treatment, and his availability is subject to fitness," ICB statement.

The T20I series is set to begin from December 10

The star India pacer has been absent from the Indian T20I team since last year's World Cup but had an exceptional 2023 Indian Premier League, claiming 28 wickets. The Team India squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav in the T20 format, is scheduled to depart for Durban via Dubai from Bengaluru early Wednesday.

The Suryakumar-led Indian team secured a 4-1 victory over Australia in the recently concluded T20I series. Head coach Rahul Dravid and the entire support staff will accompany them on this journey. Cricketing action is set to commence with the first T20I on December 10 at Kingsmead in Durban. KL Rahul will lead the side in ODIs before Rohit Sharma resumes action in the longest format of the game.