Why Mohammed Shami Missed the England Test Series: A Deep Dive

There was buzz about Mohammed Shami’s possible inclusion in the Indian Test squad for the England series, following his training session with a specialized ball at Sunrisers Hyderabad. His absence from the final squad announcement, however, was a surprise. Shami last played a Test for India in the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia and has been playing domestic cricket since. His fitness level was a key factor in his omission from the Australia tour. A BCCI official confirmed that the selection panel, under Ajit Agarkar, valued Shami’s experience, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah playing a limited number of Tests. But, Shami’s lack of confidence regarding his fitness influenced the selectors to be cautious. The official stated that fitness concerns were the primary reason for his exclusion. The selectors spoke to him before finalizing the squad, but his assurance was missing. Mohammed Shami is slated to play in the Duleep Trophy 2025, which will kick off on August 28, with East Zone and North Zone teams playing in the quarter-finals at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.