India's senior fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, despite being a potential option for the last two Tests of the series. Shami, who recently returned to domestic cricket following surgery on his Achilles tendon, is reportedly focused on ensuring he's fully fit for next year's Champions Trophy and Indian Premier League (IPL).

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There has been speculation regarding his availability for the final two Tests against Australia. However, a source close to the matter revealed that the decision lies with Shami himself. The source told NDTV Sports,

"The swelling seems to come and go. He is keen to play more domestic cricket, and the possibility of him playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal (starting December 21) looks more likely. He can bowl multiple spells and regain full match fitness."

The source further added that Shami is being cautious, considering his past injuries and the challenges of playing in Australia,

"Shami is at the business end of his career. What if his knee acts up after a long spell on Australia's hard grounds? He missed the last IPL due to ankle surgery, and this time he has a hefty Rs 10 crore deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). You can't blame him if he wants to preserve himself for white-ball cricket for now."

With a busy year ahead, including the Champions Trophy 2025 and the IPL, Shami’s priority seems to be managing his workload and ensuring long-term fitness for key white-ball tournaments.