Sourav Ganguly Talks About Mohammed Shami’s Long Absence from India Team
Mohammed Shami has been out of the Indian cricket team for more than a year, despite continuing to perform well in domestic cricket. The experienced fast bowler has not played for India since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where India defeated New Zealand in the final.
Shami had previously suffered an ankle injury that kept him away from cricket for almost a year. He worked through his recovery and returned to international cricket during the Champions Trophy. However, after the tournament, the selectors did not pick him for India’s subsequent matches.
The chief selector has explained that Shami’s fitness was a concern, especially as he is now 36 years old. There have been questions about whether his body can handle the demands of international cricket regularly.
Shami responded to these concerns by saying that if he really had major fitness problems, he would not be able to continue playing domestic cricket. His performances in domestic competitions have shown that he remains capable of competing at a high level.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has also questioned why Shami has not received another opportunity. Ganguly recalled his own experience when he was left out of the national team for around a year despite having already scored more than 10,000 international runs. He eventually returned to the Indian side.
Ganguly said Shami’s current domestic performances should be considered when the selectors choose the national team. He also rejected suggestions that Shami has not played enough cricket, pointing out that the fast bowler has had plenty of experience at the highest level.
India’s selectors have recently given opportunities to younger fast bowlers, including Gurnoor Brar and Harshit Rana. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah because of injury has also created opportunities for other pacers to establish themselves in the team.
Shami recently showed his quality in the Duleep Trophy. He helped East Zone win the tournament after a gap of 13 years and took seven wickets across the semifinal and final. His performances once again demonstrated his ability to make an impact with the ball.
His next possible assignment is the Irani Trophy, provided he is selected in the Rest of India squad. If he is not selected, Shami is expected to return to action for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, which begins on October 11.
With India’s pace-bowling options changing and younger players receiving opportunities, Shami’s future with the national team remains uncertain. However, his recent domestic performances have kept the debate alive over whether the experienced pacer deserves another chance for India.