IND vs SA: "Why he is still not playing..." -Mohammad Kaif unhappy with India ignoring Mohammed Shami in ODIs

Mohammed Shami last played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif stated that India missed a huge chance by not picking Mohammed Shami for the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa. India defeated South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi by 17 runs in a high-scoring encounter.

India had posted 349/8 in 50 overs, thanks to 135 by Virat Kohli and half-centuries by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul after being asked to bat first by Proteas captain Aiden Markram. In response, Harshit Rana picked two early wickets to leave South Africa at 11/3.

But then Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch hit amazing counterattacking half-centuries to take South Africa very close to an improbable win. But Kuldeep Yadav’s four wickets and Harshit Rana’s three scalps gave India a narrow 17-run win.

India’s pacers’ inability to pick wickets in the middle overs in Ranchi led to fans and experts questioning the absence of Mohammed Shami in the Indian squad. Shami last played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament, taking nine wickets from five matches during the tournament.

But since then, Shami has been unable to find a spot in the Indian squad across formats. Ajit Agarkar, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector, had revealed that Shami had refused to tour England when asked, citing fitness issues.

Mohammed Shami has so much class and so many ways to take wickets: Mohammad Kaif  

India went into the South Africa series with a young pace attack, with only Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna available because Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were rested.

While the trio took six wickets in 27.2 overs, they were all expensive, with an economy rate of more than 6.4. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif stated that Shami would have performed well on a flat track such as the one available in Ranchi.

The former cricketer feels that Harshit, Prasidh, and Arshdeep can learn from the presence of Shami in the squad.

“The question is valid. No matter what kind of pitch it is, a bowler like Shami does not care if it is flat. He has so much class that he finds ways to pick wickets there as well. I don’t know why he is still not playing, because Bumrah and Siraj have been rested. The young pacers would also benefit from his presence. There is no senior pacer to tell the likes of Prasidh, Harshit, and Arshdeep what to do under pressure. India missed this,” said Kaif.

With 20 wickets from four games so far this Ranji Trophy season, Shami is in excellent form. During the current Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the Bengal pacer has also taken four wickets in three games.

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