Mohammed Shami is facing another round of disappointment as reports suggest that he might not be selected for the upcoming 5-match Test series against England. Shami, who has been a key part of India’s pace attack over the years, is reportedly going to be left out due to ongoing fitness concerns.
He was already missing from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia because of injuries, and now his “inability to bowl longer spells” is believed to be the reason for his possible exclusion from the England tour. Although he has been part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in IPL 2025, he has not performed well and has been sidelined in favour of other players. This dip in performance, combined with medical concerns, seems to have lowered his chances of making a comeback to the Test side anytime soon.
BCCI’s Medical Assessment and Selection Doubts
According to a report, the BCCI medical team has informed the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, that Shami is not fit enough to bowl long spells required in Test matches. “Shami is bowling four overs in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the board and selectors don’t know whether he can bowl more than 10 overs in a day.”
“Test matches in England may demand longer spells from the pacers, and we can’t take chances,” the report quoted a source as saying. This statement highlights the concern within the board about whether Shami can cope with the physical demands of Test cricket, especially in English conditions, where pacers need to bowl long spells. This medical feedback appears to be a strong reason for his likely exclusion from the squad.
Possible Replacements and Selection Speculations
With Mohammed Shami unlikely to be picked, the selectors are now looking at alternative fast bowlers to take his place. The report mentions that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh could get his maiden call-up for the Test series. Additionally, Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj, who has already taken 74 wickets in 22 first-class matches, is also in consideration.
Kamboj has already been selected for the India A tour of England, increasing his chances of making it to the main squad. Meanwhile, the BCCI selection committee is expected to meet soon to finalize and announce the team. The leadership role also seems to be under review, with Shubman Gill emerging as the top choice to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s Test captain, although some still support Jasprit Bumrah for the role.
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