Mohammed Shami Not Unfit, India Selectors Ignoring Him: Childhood Coach

Despite performing well in the opening two rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, India pacer Mohammed Shami continues to be ignored as he has not been selected for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Shami took 15 wickets in the first two matches of this Ranji Trophy season, but went wicketless in the third game vs Tripura.

Following his performances, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla backed the pacer, saying that he does not need a certificate from anyone to prove his credentials. 

Now, the fast bowler's childhood coach, Mohammed Badruddin, has thrown his weight behind Shami, saying that fitness is not an issue, but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is ignoring him. 

"My thought is simple — they are ignoring him, that’s clear. There’s no other reason that makes sense to me. He’s not unfit — when a player is playing Test matches, taking 15 wickets in two games, then he doesn’t look unfit from anywhere. I don’t think he’s unfit," Badruddin told India Today, as per Hindustan Times.

"The selectors are just overlooking him, that’s it. Why they are doing that, only they can say. But I really thought he would be picked for this series, because it’s in India and only two fast bowlers will play anyway. Still, he should have been in the squad. That would’ve helped reduce Bumrah’s workload — because Bumrah can’t play three-and-a-half Tests in a row. They should’ve kept Shami for rotation, that’s what I feel."

Badruddin was also not pleased with the Test squads being picked based on T20 performances.

"I think they’ve made up their minds that they won’t pick him for now, and in my view, that’s completely wrong. When you select a Test team, it should be based on Ranji Trophy performances. If you’re selecting for Tests using T20 metrics, that’s not right," he said.

"You should look at who’s doing well in Ranji and pick from there. But here, it looks like the decisions are pre-decided — they already know which players they want, and they just stick to that list. So all this talk about performance or fitness is just an excuse. Saying 'he’s unfit' or 'needs match practice' — that’s not true. They already have a plan about who they want to play and who they don’t."

Shami was last seen in action in the Champions Trophy 2025, where he finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, helping India to the title. However, he has not played a Test for India since 2023.