Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami grabbed eyeballs after the fast bowler was yet again snubbed from the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies. The 35-year-old bowler was left out of India's 15-member squad, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar indicating the bowler has not played enough domestic matches to earn a comeback.
Once considered inseparable from Jasprit Bumrah in India's pace attack, the veteran has slipped off the radar in all formats. The highest wicket-taker from the ODI World Cup 2023 event, Shami, last featured in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final, and his last ODI game came in India's title-winning Champions Trophy campaign in 2025. With the fast bowler's snub, India has played a five-match Test series against England and the Asia Cup 2025 campaign. The 35-year-old was also dropped from the team's first home Test series against West Indies.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: ICC takes strict action against Haris Rauf & Farhan over their gestures
Along with Bumrah, selectors picked Siraj and Prasidh Krishna as the other pacers in the squad. According to the India Today report, the omission has left Shami's close friends frustrated, who believe the fast bowler still has a lot to offer.
Once a permanent member across all formats, the fast bowler's fortunes changed dramatically after he was ruled out for the whole of 2024 due to a knee injury he suffered during the ODI World Cup 2023. After going under the knife, it took Shami six months in rehab to get back to the field once again. However, despite declaring fit for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the 35-year-old was ignored for selection.
Also Read: IND vs WI: BCCI announces 15-member squad for West Indies Test series
The snub, especially in the red-ball format, has left those close to Shami fuming with anger. A source close to the pacer said the mood in his camp is pretty dull.
"Why does only Shami have to prove his match fitness by playing in the domestic circuit? Why can't the same yardstick be applied to Jasprit Bumrah?
"Shami has played so many matches for India. For a player of his experience to start from zero again, that's just a little sad. Was Bumrah fully fit when he went to England? If not, then why can't Shami get at least one Test match against the West Indies?" said a source close to the pacer.
Also Read: IND vs PAK: Pakistan coach fires blunt warning to India before Asia Cup final in Dubai
"He is 100 per cent fit right now and we are only hoping that he gets called up for the ODI tour of Australia," the source added.
