IND vs SA 2025: 'Bring back Mohammed Shami' - Former India captain's advice to Gautam Gambhir after Eden Gardens defeat

Published - 17 Nov 2025, 13:10 IST | Updated - 17 Nov 2025, 13:58 IST

Former captain Sourav Ganguly urged Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir to bring Mohammed Shami back into the side after South Africa won the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs on Sunday, November 16. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president opined that Gambhir should have faith in the experienced pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.

Shami's last appearance for India in the red-ball format was the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2023 against Australia. He has played the two white-ball formats for the Men in Blue this year but a Test comeback has remained elusive. The right-arm seamer has been performing well for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, as he has accounted for 18 wickets in four matches so far.

“I am very fond of Gautam; he has done well in the 2011 and T20 World Cups. He will continue for a while, but he must play on good pitches in India. He must have faith in Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami," Ganguly said while speaking to Sports Tak.

“I think Shami deserves a place in this Test team. Shami and the spinners will win Tests for him," he added.

Ganguly hoped that India would play on good pitches, where their batters will be able to put runs on the board, like they did during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy earlier this year. He said that the Shubman Gill-led side should look to win Test matches in five days and not three.

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“Play on good wickets. I hope Gautam Gambhir is listening. He needs to take the wicket out of the game. Because if his batters aren’t putting up 350–400, he will not win Tests. That is the reason they won in England, because their batters put runs up on the board. He must play on good wickets. And trust his people. And win Tests in 5 days. Not in 3 days," Ganguly mentioned.