Why Mohammed Shami Should Return to India’s Test Squad
<h2><strong>Why Mohammed Shami Deserves a Place in India’s Test Team</strong></h2><p>India’s recent 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Kolkata has triggered a strong debate among cricket experts and fans. In a low-scoring match that lasted just three days, bowlers dominated from the start, and India’s narrow loss raised one major question: Did the team miss the proven match-winning ability of Mohammed Shami?</p><p>The contest exposed India’s struggle to take crucial wickets at key moments. While the pace attack did well to maintain discipline, something felt missing — the sharpness and sudden breakthroughs that Shami consistently delivers in pressure situations. His absence was clearly felt when the match drifted away from India in the final moments.</p><h2><strong>Ganguly Strongly Supports Shami’s Comeback</strong></h2><p>Former India captain and current CAB president <strong>Sourav Ganguly</strong> did not hesitate to voice his opinion. Speaking on Sports Tak, Ganguly emphasised that Test cricket always rewards experience, especially when the match situation becomes tense.</p><p>According to him, India must trust its most seasoned pacers.<br>He said, <i>“Shami deserves a place in this Test team. Experience matters, and players like Shami and our spinners win Test matches.”</i></p><p>His comments reflect a growing belief across the cricket community: while India has a talented group of fast bowlers, there are moments where only someone with Shami’s skill and temperament can make the difference.</p><h2><strong>Shami’s Red-Ball Excellence Speaks for Itself</strong></h2><p>Mohammed Shami is widely considered one of the finest red-ball bowlers of his generation. His Test record across conditions proves his class:</p><p>He has delivered match-changing spells in <strong>Australia</strong>, troubling batters with bounce and seam.</p><p>In <strong>England</strong>, he has exploited swing-friendly conditions perfectly.</p><p>In <strong>South Africa</strong>, he is known for hitting relentless lengths on tough surfaces.</p><p>One of Shami’s biggest strengths is his <strong>upright seam position</strong>, which allows him to extract movement even on flat pitches. While most bowlers depend on the pitch, Shami creates opportunities through his consistency and natural skill.</p><p>He is also known for breaking partnerships — a quality India missed badly in Kolkata. When the match slows down or seems lost, Shami is the kind of bowler who can suddenly turn it around with a double strike.</p><h2><strong>Concerns Over Fitness Slowed His Return</strong></h2><p>Shami’s career in recent years has been disrupted by injuries. A long knee injury kept him away from international cricket for months. Although he returned during India’s Champions Trophy campaign and played white-ball matches, his performances in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad were below expectations.</p><p>The selectors, focusing on fitness, decided not to include him for several major series — including:</p><p>The England Tests for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy</p><p>The 2025 Asia Cup</p><p>The home series against West Indies</p><p>These decisions raised questions but reflected the team’s caution with a senior player recovering from a long injury.</p><h2><strong>Domestic Comeback Shows He Is Ready</strong></h2><p>However, Shami is now making a strong case for his return. Representing <strong>Bengal in the Ranji Trophy</strong>, he has already picked up 15 wickets in just three matches — proof that his rhythm and pace have returned.</p><p>In the ongoing match against Assam at Kalyani, he added two more wickets on day one, showing he is bowling with confidence and control. His performances indicate that he is not only fit but also ready for the demands of Test cricket.</p><p>Beyond statistics, his presence benefits young pacers such as Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep. Shami offers tactical awareness, experience in handling pressure, and an understanding of how to manage long spells — qualities that help groom the next generation.</p><h2><strong>India Needs Both Skill and Experience</strong></h2><p>While India’s current fast-bowling group is one of the strongest in the world, the Kolkata Test showed that raw talent cannot always replace battle-tested experience. Young bowlers can deliver energy, but a seasoned pacer like Shami provides match awareness, calmness, and threat from the first ball to the last.</p><p>His absence in the first Test has already become a major talking point. Many believe that India’s attack would have looked more threatening and complete with him in the lineup.</p><h2><strong>The Verdict: Shami’s Return Is Essential</strong></h2><p>Mohammed Shami is not just another fast bowler — he is a proven match-winner with the rare ability to change the course of a Test match. His skillset, experience, and mental toughness make him an asset India cannot afford to overlook.</p><p>With South Africa gaining a historic win in Kolkata, the message is clear:<br><strong>India needs Shami back in the Test team — now more than ever.</strong></p>