Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan has been read as a clear signal that the national selectors have moved on from the senior fast-bowling option. Shami last featured for India during the Champions Trophy last year, and since then he has been trying to rebuild his match sharpness and overall fitness. He also returned to domestic cricket, taking part in the Ranji Trophy in a bid to strengthen his case for a red-ball comeback, but that route has not led to an international recall.
Key takeaways
- Shami was left out of India’s squad for the single Test versus Afghanistan.
- India’s selectors cited fitness as the primary reason for not including him in the red-ball setup.
- Ajit Agarkar said the current view was that Shami is only ready for T20 cricket at this stage.
- Wasim Jaffer criticised the explanation, describing it as “disrespectful” toward Shami’s contribution.
- Jaffer argued Shami’s domestic impact—especially with Bengal—should have been recognised in the selection call.
Why Shami was left out
With India increasingly focused on nurturing a younger group across formats, chances for senior players appear to be narrowing. The direction of team-building, particularly in white-ball cricket, suggests that emerging talent is being prioritised and backed consistently. In that context, the outlook for Shami to re-enter the national side looks increasingly uncertain, regardless of format.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the decision directly, stating that fitness concerns were central to Shami missing selection. Agarkar indicated that, based on the information available to the management, Shami is not yet considered physically prepared for the rigours of red-ball cricket. He also acknowledged Shami’s domestic workload, but maintained that the current readiness level was viewed through a limited lens.
“As far as we have been told, at this point, his body is allowing him to…I know he has played the domestic season this year. But from the information that I have got is that at this point, T20 cricket is what he is sort of ready for. So, there was no discussion regarding his name,” Agarkar said during the press conference.
Wasim Jaffer fires back at the fitness rationale
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer responded sharply to Agarkar’s explanation, arguing that the reasoning was disrespectful to a player of Shami’s stature. Jaffer said the situation should be handled more clearly, rather than presenting the omission as an argument about role suitability.
“It’s rubbish (Ajit Agarkar’s explanation). We are talking about Mohammad Shami, not just any player. It’s disrespectful to Mohammad Shami. You see, this guy is performing, and you say he’s only fit for T20. It’s an excuse. Be clear if you don’t consider him, you, ‘We have overlooked him.’ That would be a fair statement. He is coming after guiding Bengal single-handedly to the Ranji Trophy (season) semi-final, the way he spearheaded the bowling,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
Continuing his critique, Jaffer also drew a comparison between Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. He questioned whether selectors would apply the same treatment if Bumrah returned from injury with similar fitness concerns, highlighting what he sees as a double standard.
“What if Bumrah gets injured, and he comes back? Would you treat him the same way? Mohammad Shami is in the same bracket. Go and ask any international batter, and they would rank him on top. It’s disrespectful for the services he provided to India,” he concluded.
