BCCI selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar has shed light on the absence of seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami from India’s Test squad for the England series, clarifying that it was purely due to fitness concerns. Shami’s omission raised eyebrows, especially given his consistent performances and experience, but Agarkar stated that medical evaluations made his exclusion inevitable.

“Shami had a bit of a setback last week and underwent a few MRIs. The scans revealed he wouldn’t be fit in time for the series. The medical team has ruled him out entirely,” Ajit Agarkar revealed while announcing the squad, which will be led by Shubman Gill.
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Agarkar emphasised that while the selectors hoped Shami would recover in time, they ultimately had to go with players who were match-ready. “His workload isn’t where it needs to be. We can’t afford to carry unfit players through a five-Test series,” he added.

Shami has been a mainstay of India’s pace attack, particularly in home conditions, with his ability to extract movement off the pitch and deliver breakthroughs consistently. He has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests at an impressive average of 27.71, making him one of India’s most reliable fast bowlers in the longest format.
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However, with age catching up and fitness issues recurring, this could very well mark the beginning of the end for Shami’s Test career. His last appearance in whites came during the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.
Even in the IPL 2025 season, Shami hasn’t hit his stride, managing just six wickets in nine games for Sunrisers Hyderabad. With form and fitness both in question, his road back to the Test setup seems increasingly uncertain.