Delhi: As the days of choosing a team for England tour and playing Tests in England are getting closer, concern is increasing for the Indian camp. It will not be called the correct preparation of 5 Tests in England. Mohammed Shami is also a name in this list of concern. Although Shami’s talent, previous record and other impressive pace options in India, this 34 -year -old pace should be in the list of ‘Automatic Selection’, but now it is no guarantee. He cannot make a measure of choosing IPL for Test cricket, but even in terms of Shami, IPL 2025 is not supporting him. What are the 5 biggest factors who are putting Shami’s name in the list of selectors worrying?
The issue of fitness:
Stayed out of the team for more than a year of ankle and knee injury and returned to play T20 in January this year. In 2024, all three forms did not play a single match for India. Now the return is also being more than 4 months, but neither are in the right rhythm nor can give proof of fitness for a long spell. The selector is looking for him who can bowl 15 overs in a day and Shami is throwing 4 overs in the IPL in two parts. So choosing them is no less than a big ‘risk’.
Anyway, Tests are away from cricket:
The last Test was played in June 2023. The reason for the injury on him is making a comeback after several months, nothing is easy for him. Apart from this, he has been more famous for his Test performance in the last few years, not for his Test performance. From 2015 to 2019, the form has dropped from 2020 for 134 wickets at 23.8 average in 36 Tests and records are not special. The truth is that Shami did not play a single Test in the last WTC round, while India played 19 Tests during this period. Now even so far, they are saying that even if they were in the team in the last Australia tour, what special support would Bumrah would have supported?
Return to white ball cricket, not guaranteed to return to Test team:
In January 2025, he returned to Team India to play T20 International against England and that too was out of Bumrah, the result of taking him in the Champions Trophy 2025 team. That is why he was also feeding directly into the Champions Trophy, but 9 wickets at an average of 25.9 in 5 ODIs and 5 against Bangladesh, while in the remaining 4 matches, he was able to take only 4 wickets at an average of 45 in the remaining 4 matches. India won the trophy, hiding all this but the record is in front. Now in 9 matches in IPL 2025, only 6 wickets with an average of 56.2 and 11.2 economy rates and one of the most failed bowlers of this season. That is why questions arose in the place in the Test team.
India’s strategy will be a big risk:
One thinking is being made that forget all these issues and since he has to support Bumrah (not 100 percent fit), choose Shami (so that he does not play Bumrah if he does not play), this strategy will be a big risk.
His poor record in England:
Now you have to play in England, you will also see the previous record on English pitches and this is: 42 wickets at 40.5 average in 15 Tests and this is his worst record in a country outside India. The last Test was in England itself (2023 WTC Finals against Australia) in which took 4 wickets at 40.3 average and one of the biggest reasons for India’s defeat was counted.
In view of all these issues, he was not ‘automatic selection’. Even then, in IPL 2025, his team is out of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s playoff race, he can be given a chance to play in England for India A. If this happens, see the record of these matches, what will help them?
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