Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has come out strongly in support of senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami, saying he “deserves to play for India in all three formats” and should not be ignored at this stage of his career.
Ganguly remarks come at a time when Shami was left out of India squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, despite showing outstanding form in domestic cricket.
Ganguly: “Shami is fit, bowling brilliantly — he must return”
Speaking to PTI, Ganguly praised Shami recent performances and said the selectors should not overlook a bowler of his skill and experience.
“Shami is bowling exceptionally well. He is fit, he has the skill, and we all saw how he won matches for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. I see no reason why he can’t play Test, ODI and T20 cricket for India.” — Sourav Ganguly
Shami, 35, has taken 15 wickets in his first two Ranji matches this season and bowled 91 overs in three games, proving his fitness level after recovering from ankle surgery.
Shami last played for India in the Champions Trophy 2025, and since then has not been picked in any format. Sources suggest the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is being cautious because of Shami’s past injuries, especially with the next ODI World Cup still two years away.
With youngsters like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep becoming part of India’s long-format plans, questions are being raised about whether Shami has slipped down the pecking order.
But Ganguly strongly disagrees.
“Skill like Shami’s doesn’t fade. If he is fit and performing, he should play for India — simple.”
Reports suggest ongoing communication between Shami and the selectors, but no clarity yet on his immediate future.
India has no red-ball cricket for the next six months, raising speculation on whether Shami has already played his last Test — a thought Ganguly completely rejects.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is also in the discussion for a Test spot, but Ganguly believes his inclusion will depend on team balance.
India vs South Africa: Ganguly Expects a Tough Series, But Backs India’s Bench Strength
Speaking about the upcoming Test series, Ganguly said India remain firm favourites.
“India’s spin attack is world-class and the young players — Gill, Jaiswal, Rahul, Pant — have all been outstanding. South Africa will have to play extremely well to beat India in India.”
Sourav Ganguly’s strong backing has reopened the debate around Mohammed Shami’s exclusion. With Shami fit, firing, and dominating domestic cricket, many believe it’s only a matter of time before selectors bring him back into the national setup. Whether that happens before the 2026 T20 World Cup or later — the pressure on selectors is now louder than ever.
