Shami says outsiders cannot judge his spell lengths
Shami defends his bowling capacity as he continues to be overlooked for India's New Zealand tours.
Mohammed Shami said on Monday that nobody outside the team can judge the appropriate length of his bowling spells. The 36-year-old pacer has not been selected for India's upcoming tours of New Zealand despite continuing to play domestic cricket for Bengal. Shami's last international appearance came during the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Shami has been playing regularly for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy to prove his fitness following knee and ankle surgeries after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He featured in seven of Bengal's nine matches during their run to the semi-finals last season. His omission from the New Zealand tours has raised questions about whether selectors believe he can sustain international workloads.
Shami took nine wickets in five matches during the Champions Trophy, where he stepped up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He remains hopeful of returning to the India side while continuing to enjoy his domestic cricket.
CricHubb Take
Shami's insistence that only those inside the team can judge his capacity suggests he believes selectors are making decisions based on incomplete information. The gap between what he sees in domestic cricket and what selectors see from outside may be the real issue preventing his recall rather than any specific fitness concern.