Sidelined for over six months by an injury to his left ankle, Mohammed Shami seems to be making steady progress in his recovery.

The senior India pacer, whose last competitive appearance was the ODI World Cup final back in November, is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore going through his recovery process. Shami, who had a fantastic World Cup last year with 24 wickets from seven matches, had a surgery in London earlier in February.

Sources in the BCCI said that as part of his recovery process, Shami is undergoing exercises that help in functional strength, control and dynamic stability and mobility. Those exercises are squats (that boost lower-body strength and mobility), single-leg deadlift (which works on the lower-body unilateral strength alongside ensuring knee and feet stability), dumbbell prone rows (which boosts the upper body pulling strength), overhead farmer’s walk (which develops grip strength and works on the body balance) and running mechanics drills.

“These exercises have to be done for four to six weeks. Thereafter, it depends on the progression of the player concerned,” a BCCI official said on Tuesday.

“Injury may have sidelined me, but it won’t keep me down for long. Watch me reclaim my place on the field,” Shami wrote on Instagram late in the evening alongside uploading a video, where he’s seen rolling his arms a little bit.

Along with the just-concluded IPL and the upcoming T20 World Cup, the injury had also ruled Shami out of India’s home Tests versus England and the South Africa tour prior to that.

Board secretary Jay Shah had earlier said Shami is “likely to return” for the home Tests against Bangladesh this September. So, what’s the current status? Is Shami all set for a return in September or will he straightaway take the field in Australia for the five-Test series beginning in November, which carries more significance?

“At the moment, it’s difficult to say because Shami hasn’t yet started bowling at full intensity. Once he starts doing so, it will take another month or a month-and-a-half to reach the international standard. He will only gradually increase the number of deliveries he sends down. So, reaching the peak of bowling 20 overs at 130-140kmph-plus speed takes a fair amount of time. After all, he’s looking to be fit to bowl in Test matches,” the Board official explained.

“If he shapes up well in time, there’s a fair chance of his comeback in September itself. That said, rotation in the XI is a good possibility, particularly when it comes to the frontline quicks.

“The likes of (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Siraj and Shami — if he returns by then — might be rested in a few of the games (against Bangladesh and New Zealand) so that they are fully fresh for Australia.”