Mohammed Shami should play for India again: Ganguly sends reminder to Agarkar

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has voiced strong support for Mohammed Shami's return to the Indian national cricket team. Speaking in Kolkata ahead of the Lucknow Super Giants' IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders on 9 April, Ganguly cited Shami's recent performances as clear justification for his inclusion.

Ganguly made these remarks during the inauguration of the third season of the Bengal Pro T20 League on Tuesday. He praised Shami's bowling and fitness despite his absence from the national side. The former BCCI president emphasised that Shami's role should be as the new-ball partner to Jasprit Bumrah – and nothing else.

"He should be bowling at the other end of Bumrah, nowhere else. That's how good he is. We all saw that spell the other night against SunRisers Hyderabad – four overs, nine runs against two of the best T20 players, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. That was phenomenal," Ganguly said, referring to Shami's recent IPL performance in which he took 2 for 9 and earned Player of the Match honours in Lucknow Super Giants' win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Ganguly also highlighted Shami's impact in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. He pointed to the 35-year-old's hunger and consistency, noting his commitment to performing day in and day out despite being overlooked by the selectors.

"He had a strong Ranji Trophy season for Bengal. I still remember that semi-final - even though Bengal lost, he picked up eight wickets. He was instrumental in taking the team that far," he said.

'SHAMI'S SEAM TREAT TO WATCH'

Addressing the physical demands placed on fast bowlers, Ganguly welcomed Shami's continued participation in the Ranji Trophy. "I'm very happy he wants to keep playing in the Ranji Trophy. It's tough for a fast bowler, but there's nothing better than watching Mohammed Shami run in with the new ball," he added.

"He looks fit and sharp. After bowling consistently for months, you naturally reach peak conditions – no amount of training matches that. I wish him all the best and would love to see him back in India colours," Ganguly said.

Like millions of Indian cricket fans, Ganguly remains an admirer of Shami's upright seam – a hallmark of his bowling that continues to stand out.

Shami finished among the leading wicket-takers in this season's Ranji Trophy, claiming 37 wickets at an average of 16.72. Despite these performances, he remains sidelined by the national selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, and has yet to regain his place in the international squad.

"I still believe he should play for India. Hopefully, his time will come again because he's that good. When the ball comes out with that upright seam, it's a treat to watch," Ganguly added, underlining the ongoing debate around selection policies and player management in Indian cricket.

Shami's exclusion has not been due to a lack of performance. In the 2025-26 domestic season, he was prolific for Bengal, taking 67 wickets across the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His recent IPL form for Lucknow Super Giants has been equally impressive; most notably, he delivered a match-winning spell of 2 for 9 – including 18 dot balls – against SRH on April 5.

In response to his continued omission, Shami has been unusually vocal. He has firmly dismissed any talk of retirement, stating he will only step away when he feels bored or lacks motivation. Hinting at deeper frustration, he suggested that a lack of PR may be influencing selection decisions, with younger pacers being favoured despite his proven technical ability.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has consistently maintained that the door is not closed. However, his comments indicate a firm emphasis on "match fitness" as a selection criterion – something Shami believes he has already demonstrated through his performances.

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