Sourav Ganguly questions selectors for sidelining Mohammed Shami despite his brilliant form in domestic cricket

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In the ever-dynamic world of Indian cricket, selection debates are as routine as a Virat Kohli cover drive or a Jasprit Bumrah yorker. Yet, when Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s most respected cricketing minds, voices his opinion, it instantly commands attention. The former India captain and ex-BCCI President has recently spoken out in strong support of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, questioning the decision to keep him out of the national setup.

Ganguly’s remarks have reignited conversations about selection transparency and performance-based opportunities, especially for proven match-winners like Shami. According to Ganguly, there’s “no reason” for Shami’s continued exclusion, given his recent form and fitness.

Shami’s career has long been defined by his resilience and relentless determination. Over the years, he has overcome injuries, personal setbacks, and intense competition to establish himself as one of India’s most successful fast bowlers across formats. Known for his seam position, late movement, and consistency, Shami has been a cornerstone of India’s pace revolution in the past decade.

Recently, the Bengal pacer reminded everyone of his enduring class through a stellar run in the Ranji Trophy. Representing Bengal, Shami picked up 15 wickets in just three matches, delivering several match-defining spells. His ability to extract life from unresponsive pitches and maintain control over both old and new balls proved that age has not dulled his effectiveness.

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Ganguly strongly defended Shami, saying there is ‘no reason’ for the veteran pacer to be excluded from the Indian team. He praised Shami’s recent performances in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, where he took 15 wickets in just three matches and single-handedly won games for his side. Ganguly emphasized that Shami is bowling ‘exceptionally well’ and looks as fit and skillful as ever, adding that his ability to swing the ball and trouble batters remains unmatched. The former India captain also mentioned that while he isn’t sure about the communication between Shami and the selectors, he firmly believes that a bowler of Shami’s caliber should be part of India’s setup across formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

“Shami is great, he’s bowling exceptionally well. You saw in the 2-3 Ranji trophy matches where he’s won Bengal on his own. I’m sure the selectors are watching. I’m sure there is a communication between Shami and selectors, I don’t know. But if you ask me in terms of fitness and skill, it’s Mohammed Shami we know of. So I really don’t see any reason why he can’t be playing test matches, ODIs or T20Is for India because that skill is enormous,” said Ganguly at an event in Kolkata.

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