Badruddin Siddiqui strikes a tone that is full of both pride and confusion. When commenting on the most recent exclusion of Mohammed Shami, the veteran coach very plainly raises the issue again: He has got it all – art, wickets, fitness, and form… what more does he want? It is a straightforward and uncomplaining way of stating that it is the actual performance, not what one thinks, that should decide the antagonistcarrot.
A considerable body of work
Mohammed Shami has unequivocally met the criteria for being labeled as first-choice in the Indian domestic cricket season. His tally of 20 wickets from 80 overs bowled at an economy rate of 2.33 in four Ranji Trophy games not only brought him accolades but also, Bengal finished in the top spot of the respective kitty. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shami’s bag was of 16. And in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he had a decent 11 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of 5.16 and in the process, finished as the third highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
The three main departments of his bowling have all started coming to the field. He has been through the grind on the field. He has been a fearless attacker of the new ball and also a capable option in every deck and eager to please.
Shami was Missing from the New Zealand ODI side
Yet, Shami’s selection was nowhere to be seen in the ODI matches against New Zealand. The decision ignited even greater criticism than usual. Siddiqui had a query about what a senior bowler should have done to be taken into consideration. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, the Bengal coach, opposed the decision and saluted Shami’s domestic performance as the greatest example of an international veteran among other players.
The problem is not only regarding one series. Shami’s coach is afraid that this might be the first step to a complete shutdown from the Indian ODI team. A player who has always been performing well in the major tournaments, is not in the team after such a successful regional comeback, and it seems that the criteria for selection does not meet the situation on the field in the eyes of the fans.
A record that many fellow players may envy
Shami’s position is not only strong because of his recent performances but also because of his previous records. In the history of Indian cricket, he is the highest wicket-taker in World Cups. In 18 games, he has taken 55 wickets at an average of 13.53, which is the best record for the tournament. The player enjoys playing under lights and before a big crowd. He also mentioned in a recent interview that his biggest dream is to win the 2027 World Cup.
A top of the line pace attack, comprising the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Shami, and Mohammed Siraj could be a sheer terrorizing opponent even on the hardest and fastest of South African pitches. Not very among the other options monopolizing the headline of the news can strike the same fear—the case of Harshit Rana, who is still getting habituated to the international standard, Prasidh Krishna, who is continuing to deliver his signal performance with the same unsteady accuracy and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is yet to achieve his first five.
Laxmi Shukla 🗣️
“The selection committee has done injustice with Mohammed Shami. No Int’l player has played domestic cricket with as much dedication as Shami in the recent past. Even after toiling hard in domestic, what the selection committee has done with him is shameful”. pic.twitter.com/yf8cvAT0EY
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) January 3, 2026
Selectors’ caution and the 2027 lens
There is a line of argument, and it has a reasonable side too. The making of a selection is not only a matter of looking for a reward but also the one that takes care of the risk factor. By the time 2027 comes, Shami will be 36. The panel of selectors of the Indian cricket team might be reluctant to base their World Cup strategy on two wonderful but frequently-injured fast bowlers who are in their thirties. Starting to create a solid support staff now may help to avoid a very late panic.
Indian domestic fast bowlers are not fully loaded with goods. The reason is that this may lead decision-makers to behave restrictedly: by constructing a circle, distributing the work, and being cautious not to put too much pressure on the senior fast bowlers all at once. A policy from the side of India, to say the least, -very low on flights for the pacemakers.
A health sketch that is not so clear
The communication barrier has not been removed. The head selector himself said before that Shami was not very prompt in updating the panel on his fitness; Shami’s argument was that it is not his duty to do that. The gap, whether procedural or philosophical, is bridged. There must be definite places and times where the players are obliged to observe and respond. Also, these places and times are supposed to be known to the selectors.
If the selectors are judging the durability of the players throughout an entire season, let them pronounce it. If it is that they are just worried about planning in the distant future, then speak about the standards sabbatical players have to meet to be back. The veterans and the new entrants are happy to have their paths and, consequently, their expectations paved by this openness regardless.
Runs in the mud, rhythm in the arm
Shami’s grind, as revealed by Siddiqui, is a very inspiring experience. Following knee surgery in 2024, the fast bowler returned to his farmhouse in Alinagar, Sahaspur, and practiced by running without shoes in the mud and bowling hundreds of deliveries until he could find the rhythm again. This hard and persistent method has now been reintroduced in his bowling: the smooth action can be repeated, the run-up is bustling, and the ball moves in very late.
Considering that many of the Bengal fixtures were not televised, Siddiqui has been very obsessed with studying the highlights and online clips. Now he is happy with what he sees: a very light and smooth gather, the seam is straight up, and the ball is very tough to handle. The coach says that if he keeps the good performance, it will become harder and harder for anyone to ignore him.
What should happen next
The following are the steps that could change the tense situation for the better:
– Establish criteria for the selection of senior fast bowlers returning from injuries that will include match count, workload, and performance thresholds in all formats.
– The phased approach should be taken: the players should be used in the shorter formats in bilateral games only and not very regularly, their workload must be monitored throughout the time, and they should be aware of their specific roles within the pace battery.
– Commence conversation as soon as possible and let the public be a part of. This will prevent players and selectors from being rumored about and, at the same time, will give the cricket board a clear course towards 2027.
I mean, this decision is not a matter of pushing for popularity. It is a matter of deciding who and when, and who can be trusted in the team. With regard to the first, Shami has matched any pacer in the country in terms of what he has achieved. He looks domesticated too, as one cannot argue with his form. The only thing left is the question of trust where one has to be clear.
He is a complete package who seems to have everything to be a successful participant in the game — art, wickets, fitness, form… what else can he possibly need? But unless the selectors come up with certain points, a query like “why is he not playing?” will forever accompany each delivery that Shami bowls, which is perfectly located and then the batter is asked to grab that.
