Shami’s Coach Slams Agarkar-Led Panel for Ignoring Pacer Despite Strong Ranji Trophy Form

Shami, who last wore the Test whites in 2023 and most recently featured for India in the Champions Trophy, had made a strong case for recall by snapping up 15 wickets across three Ranji Trophy outings, bowling a total of 93 overs and steering Bengal to victories over Uttarakhand and Gujarat. A particularly striking effort came in Bengal’s second match at Eden Gardens, where Shami dismantled Gujarat’s lower order with the old ball on the final day — turning a comfortable Gujarat position of 150 for two into a collapse, bundling them out for 185.

Yet when the selectors announced the squad on Wednesday, Shami’s name was absent.

“They Already Know Who They Want”

Speaking to India Today, Badruddin didn’t mince words. He dismissed the recurring “fitness concerns” narrative around Shami as a convenient smokescreen, arguing that a bowler claiming 15 wickets in competitive domestic cricket simply cannot be labelled unfit.

“He is not unfit — anyone watching him bowl can see that. When a player is taking wickets consistently in Ranji Trophy matches, there is no question of fitness. The selectors are simply ignoring him, and I cannot find any other logical explanation,” Badruddin said.

He went on to question the strategic thinking behind leaving Shami out of a home Test series, pointing out that India typically field only two specialist fast bowlers on subcontinental pitches and that Shami could have served as a crucial rotation option to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload.

“Bumrah cannot realistically bowl through three and a half back-to-back Tests. Shami should have been part of this squad precisely for that reason — to give the attack balance and give Bumrah rest when needed. It’s common sense squad management.”

Double Standards in Selection Criteria

Badruddin also raised a broader concern about the consistency of selection principles, questioning whether Test squad decisions were being influenced by a player’s performance in the shorter formats — something he said fundamentally undermines the purpose of the Ranji Trophy as a pathway to Test cricket.

“When you are picking a Test squad, the benchmark should be Ranji Trophy form — full stop. If T20 numbers are being factored into Test selections, that is simply the wrong approach. The way decisions are being made, it feels like the squad is pre-decided and everything else — talk of fitness, talk of match practice — is just a cover story,” he stated bluntly.

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A Comeback That Will “Silence Everyone”

Despite his frustration, Badruddin expressed complete faith in Shami’s eventual return, predicting that when the opportunity finally comes, the pacer will respond in a manner that puts the debate to rest permanently.

“I have full confidence he will come back, and when he does, it will be the kind of return that leaves no room for doubt. You cannot keep overlooking someone who has delivered for India time and again, especially in marquee tournaments like the World Cup. The entire country sees what he is doing on the field. Sooner or later, the selectors will have no choice but to bring him back — and at that point, all this talk about form and fitness as excuses will be completely exposed,” Badruddin concluded.

Shami, meanwhile, is expected to continue playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy as he looks to pile up more performances that make his exclusion increasingly difficult to defend.