Should Mohammed Shami return to Team India? Ganguly opines
What's the story
Former Indian cricket captain and current Cricket Association Bengal (CAB) President, Sourav Ganguly has questioned the rationale behind Mohammed Shami's continued exclusion from the national team. Shami last played for India in the World Test Championship final in 2023. Despite his stellar performance in domestic cricket, he was omitted from India's recent white-ball series against Australia due to alleged fitness concerns.
Performance review
Ganguly backs Shami's return to national team
Ganguly has come out in defense of Shami, citing his impressive performances in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. "Shami is great, he's bowling exceptionally well," said Ganguly at an event in Kolkata. He added that Shami had single-handedly won matches for Bengal in recent Ranji Trophy games. "I'm sure the selectors are watching... But if you ask me in terms of fitness and skill, it's Mohammed Shami we know of," he said.
Exclusion impact
Shami asserts his fitness and readiness for international cricket
Shami had previously asserted his fitness and readiness for international cricket, hinting at a possible communication gap with the management. He was not selected for the recently concluded two-match Test series against West Indies or the white-ball tour of Australia. Despite skipping the fourth round of Ranji Trophy, Shami impressed in his first three matches, bowling 93 overs and taking 15 wickets at an average of 15.13 with best figures of 5/38.
Test history
Shami last played Test cricket in 2023
Shami last played Test cricket in 2023 during the World Test Championship final against Australia. He had undergone ankle surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was India's leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets at an average of 10.70. Despite his stellar performance, Shami has been left out of India's squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa starting Friday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.