Follow UsWhile India’s squad for the five-Test series in England was largely on expected lines, Mohammed Shami's omission from the squad raised serious questions on the fitness status of the Indian pacer who has been a mainstay of the Test side.
Shami, who’s currently playing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, returned before the IPL after a long hiatus post the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he underwent knee surgery. While he has been fit enough to bowl in the IPL, he has been very expensive so far and unlike his usual self.
According to a former India selector, Shami might be nearing the end of his red-ball career.
“If Mohammed Shami isn’t available in Australia or England, why would the selectors pick him against West Indies and South Africa at home. They might as well use Akash Deep, Arshdeep, Harshit or Mukesh as Siraj or Bumrah’s partner," the former selector said, as quoted by PTI.
“Shami’s body is ageing, and one has to accept that he is no longer the bowler he used to be.”
When announcing the squad for England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar also informed that Shami is unfit for the England tour, as according to reports by PTI, he wasn’t deemed fit by the BCCI Sports Science team to bowl long spells in a Test.
“He has been trying to get fit for the series, but he has had a little bit of a setback for the last week or so and he has got some MRIs done,” Agarkar said in the press conference at the BCCI headquarters on May 24.
“I’d like to mention, I don’t think he was going to be available for all five Tests. I don’t think his workload is where it needs to be. It’s what the medical guys told us that he’s been ruled out of the series," Agarkar told the media about the senior pacer’s absence.
“Unfortunately, we were hoping that he’s available for some part of the series at least. But if he’s not fit at the moment, it’s very difficult to be waiting. It’s (the squad is) rather planned with the guys that are fit and available," he added.
“So it’s unfortunate that a bowler like him will always want to try and pick by himself. At the moment, he’s not fit,"
India tour to England begins June 20 at Headingley.