NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said on Monday that Mohammed Shami should return to the national team in all formats. Ganguly said Shami is fit and bowling well, but the selectors appear to be looking beyond the 35-year-old pacer, who has not been picked for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa. Shami last played for India in the Champions Trophy in March. “Shami is bowling exceptionally well. He is fit and we saw in the three Ranji Trophy matches, where he’s won Bengal on his own,” Ganguly said on Monday.
Shami took 15 wickets for Bengal in the first two Ranji Trophy matches this season. He bowled 91 overs in the three matches, going wicketless in the game against Tripura. Shami had undergone ankle surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he ended as the leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets at an average of 10.70. “I’m sure the selectors are watching and there is a communication between Mohammad Shami and the selectors. But if you ask me, in terms of fitness and skill, it’s the Mohammad Shami we know of. So, I really don’t see any reason why he can’t keep playing Test matches, One-day cricket and T20 cricket for India. Because that skill is enormous,” Ganguly said, as quoted by news agency PTI. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep are now key members of the pace attack in Tests. With the 2027 ODI World Cup still two years away, Shami’s injury history could be a factor for the selectors. Shami, 35, has not been picked in India’s 15-member squad for the two home Tests against South Africa, starting Friday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Before this, Shami had expressed his disappointment over not being part of India’s recent Test matches.
