The BCCI recently announced Team India’s 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, set to begin in June 2025. While several fresh faces made their way into the team under the new leadership of Shubman Gill, the exclusion of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has drawn significant attention. Shami, once a cornerstone of India’s fast-bowling attack, has been left out due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Fitness Woes Continue to Haunt Shami
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar addressed Shami’s omission during a press conference following the squad announcement. According to Agarkar, the decision was based entirely on medical grounds.
“Mohammed Shami had some trouble last week, and his MRI scan revealed he’s not fully fit. We didn’t want to take any chances, especially with a long overseas Test tour like England. We’re going ahead with fully fit pacers,” said Agarkar.
Despite returning to competitive cricket post-injury, Shami has struggled to regain his trademark rhythm and speed. His performance during recent domestic and franchise-level games, including the IPL, lacked the intensity and control he’s known for. Reports also suggest a possible recurrence of his old injury, raising concerns over his ability to endure long bowling spells in England’s demanding conditions.
Not Ready for Long Spells Yet
According to sources within the BCCI’s medical unit, Shami is not currently in a condition to deliver sustained spells of fast bowling—a crucial requirement in overseas Test matches. Given the swing-friendly and often physically taxing nature of English pitches, selectors opted for young, fit fast bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and others who can take on the workload.
Shami last appeared in whites for India during the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia. Since then, his absence has been attributed to fitness management, and this latest setback extends his time away from the national team.
Sarfaraz Khan Dropped Despite Promise
Another notable exclusion is middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, whose omission has also sparked debate among fans and analysts. The young right-hander was hopeful of securing a place on this tour, even undergoing a fitness transformation to meet international standards. Despite playing 6 Test matches and maintaining a respectable average of 37.10 with one century and three fifties, Sarfaraz has once again been left out of the playing squad.
He was part of the squad during the Australia series but didn’t feature in the playing XI. His consistent performances in domestic cricket appeared to have brought him closer to cementing a Test role, but the selectors have opted to explore other options for now.
Shifting Gears Toward a New Era
The exclusion of experienced names like Shami and Sarfaraz signals a shift in Team India’s approach under the new leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. The team management seems to be focused on building a young, injury-free, and aggressive unit for the new World Test Championship cycle.
While it’s unclear how long Shami’s recovery might take, the door isn’t completely shut. If he regains full fitness and returns to form, a comeback is very much on the cards. Until then, India’s pace battery will rely on emerging talents ready to take charge in overseas conditions.
