"If I can play Ranji, why not ODIs?"- Mohammed Shami’s exposes BCCI selectors after his snub for Australia ODIs

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

Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has made a subtle yet stinging dig at Indian team management over his physical fitness after being left out of India’s ODI and T20I squads for the impending Australian tour.

The Bengal pacer, who last represented India in Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, has not featured in the national team in any tournament since.

Despite starting the tournament well with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, Shami remained wicketless in two straight games before finding form with a three-wicket performance against Australia in the semi-finals and a wicket in the final.

He was then overlooked for the England test series as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that Shami’s workload was not where it should be for test cricket and was not fully fit.

Indian team didn’t communicate with me regarding fitness: Mohammed Shami

Shami denied fitness rumors, maintaining he is match-ready despite not making the limited-overs teams. The Indian pacer stated that the communication gap issue was from the Indian team management’s side, and not from his end, and that if he is fit enough to play four-day Ranji Trophy matches, he is equally capable of handling the demands of 50-over cricket.

Shami has been named in Bengal’s squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26, which begins on October 15.

“The Indian team didn’t communicate with me regarding fitness. I am not the one who would inform them about my fitness – they have to ask me. If I can play four-day cricket, then why can’t I play a 50-over game? If I wasn’t fit, I’d be at the NCA and not playing here in the Ranji Trophy,” Shami told India Today.

Shami’s comments contrasted with those of the chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who provided a different explanation for the pacer’s omission. Agarkar recently addressed the media, stating that there had been no new developments on Shami and citing his limited playing time in prior seasons.

“I have no update. He has played in the Duleep Trophy. But in the last two to three years, he hasn’t played a lot of cricket. I think he played one game for Bengal and one in the Duleep Trophy. As a performer, we know what he can do, but he has to play cricket,” said Agarkar.

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