The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa on November 5 via X. While the squad featured the return of pacer Akash Deep, who missed the previous home series against the West Indies due to injury, one major talking point was the omission of veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami.
The decision to overlook Shami — despite his remarkable domestic form — surprised many fans and cricket experts. Mohammed Shami, who represents Bengal in domestic cricket, made a strong case for a Test recall after proving his fitness in the Ranji Trophy and taking 15 wickets in his first two matches of the season.
His recent performances suggested that he had fully recovered and was back at his best, making his exclusion a debatable move by the selectors. Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar weighed in on the issue during a discussion on Star Sports, suggesting that Shami’s omission signals a generational shift in India’s Test setup.
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“It’s a clear indicator that India is looking forward,” Abhishek Nayar explained. “Right or wrong, it’s not for us to decide. But Aakash Deep is a local lad who’s played a lot of cricket in those conditions. Whenever he’s got an opportunity, he’s delivered with the new ball and made an impact. He’s really liked in the setup because he gives his all every time he plays. So it’s a good investment for the future.”
A big talking point! 👀🗣️#AbhishekNayar gives his verdict on why #AkashDeep is preferred over #MohammedShami in the Test outfit! 🤔#INDvSA, 1st Test starts FRI, 14th NOV, 8:30 AM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/trmVbEdFeY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 11, 2025
Nayar also praised the overall strength of the Indian squad, calling it “extremely balanced and versatile.” He noted that the current setup allows the team management to experiment with combinations without worrying about conditions.
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“You have surety in every department — the batting looks strong, the spin attack is settled, and the pace unit has both experience and youth. The conditions may not even matter much with this kind of depth,” he added.
Mohammed Shami last represented India in a Test during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023. His most recent ODI outing came in March 2025 against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Whether this exclusion marks the end of Shami’s red-ball journey remains to be seen, but it certainly indicates India’s intent to invest in its next generation of pacers.
