Speculation arose regarding Mohammed Shami’s potential return to India’s Test squad for the England series after he was seen training with a unique ball at Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, his name was not included in India’s squad for the England tour. Shami last represented India in Tests during the 2023 World Test Championship Final against Australia. Despite participating in domestic cricket, he couldn’t convince the selectors about his fitness, leading to his exclusion from the Australia tour. The BCCI official revealed that the Ajit Agarkar-led panel considered Shami’s experience valuable, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah only playing three Tests. However, Shami expressed reservations about his readiness, prompting the selectors to proceed cautiously. The official stated that fitness issues were the sole reason for his absence. It was also mentioned that the selectors had consulted him before finalizing the squad, but they did not receive the necessary assurance from him. Mohammed Shami is expected to participate in the Duleep Trophy 2025, starting August 28, where East Zone will face North Zone in the quarter-finals at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
