Former India captain Sourav Ganguly urges BCCI selectors to reconsider Mohammed Shami, highlighting his fitness, form, and readiness to play across formats despite being left out of the South Africa series. (Image Credit: X/KINS News Agency)
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has sent a strong message to the BCCI selectors regarding veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who was left out of the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa. According to Ganguly, 35-year-old Shami is still fully fit and in top form, with no reason why he should not continue playing all formats of the game for India.
Ganguly pointed to Shami's performances in domestic cricket as being proof that he is ready. "Shami is bowling exceptionally well. He is fit and we saw that in the three Ranji Trophy matches where he won games for Bengal on his own," Ganguly said while speaking at an event after being named the global brand ambassador of UK-based AI sports coaching platform Kabuni.
Shami has already picked 15 wickets in Bengal's three Ranji Trophy matches this season, including back-to-back wins before going wicketless against Tripura. He has bowled 91 overs across these matches, showing stamina and consistency following his ankle surgery after the 2023 World Cup, where he finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets at an average of 10.70.
Mohammed Shami is an integral part of India's pace attack across formats and is known for his seam and swing. He has been a vital part of India's pace battery, which also includes Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj among others.
Ever since his international debut in 2013, Shami has been known for his ability to bowl in all conditions and extracting pace and bounce that rattle even the best batsmen. Despite recurring injury concerns, he has often delivered match-winning performances for India in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Ganguly emphasized that Shami has remained as effective as ever in terms of fitness and skill. “I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep playing Test matches, One-Day cricket, and T20 cricket for India. Because that skill is enormous,” he said.
Shami does not figure in any red-ball assignment for India for the next six months, and thus his Test future is uncertain. While Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep have become regulars in the pace attack, some injury concerns and the long-term planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup may also impact the selectors' judgement.
Speaking on the two-Test series against South Africa, Ganguly also had thoughts on the young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who he reckons should be chosen on merit. “He’s playing well, isn’t he? Rishabh Pant is back, and I don’t know what the selectors are thinking… The No. 3 spot could be an option,” Ganguly noted.
Ganguly tipped India as overwhelming favourites at home, citing the strength of the spin attack and the exceptional form of youngsters like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul. He asserted that in terms of both pace and spin options, India are a "bundle of talent" in the upcoming series against South Africa.
