Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
On Sunday, a ‘Happy Diwali’ message from Mohammed Shami landed on WhatsApp. This correspondent was tempted to ask him about his future plans, but it wouldn’t have been proper, for it was an occasion to exchange season’s greetings and not to ask professional/career questions.
On the face of it, Shami is hurting. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has ostensibly moved on from him under the pretext of fitness. Shami is on the wrong side of 30 and had a year-long injury hiatus after the 2023 World Cup before returning to the competitive fold last season. He played home T20Is against England earlier this year followed by the Champions Trophy in Dubai (50-over format). After that, he has been sort of airbrushed out of the Indian team’s scheme of things.
The fast bowler wasn’t picked for the Test series in England and the home Tests against the West Indies because there was an apprehension that he wouldn’t last the rigours of the longest format. He is not in the ODI side that is currently touring Australia because the selection committee was uncertain about his fitness.
Shami responded to that ahead of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy opener against Uttarakhand last week. “About giving updates, it’s not my responsibility to give or ask for one,” he told reporters at Eden Gardens. “It’s not my job to give an update on my fitness. My job is to go to the NCA (Centre of Excellence), prepare and play matches. Giving an update is not my responsibility. I’m available to play for Bengal, which proves I’m fit.”
Agarkar reacted to it at the NDTV World Summit, saying: “If he (Shami) said that to me directly, I would have a conversation with him. I have had several discussions with him in the past few months.”
The chief selector added: “If he was fit, he would have been on the plane (to England). Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Our domestic season has only just begun, so we will see how things develop.”
Shami returned with a seven-wicket match haul against Uttarakhand and then doubled down on his assertion. “Let him (Agarkar) say whatever he wants,” he said. “You have seen how I bowled. It’s all in front of your eyes.”
It’s not wise to take on the selectors, especially when a player’s career has entered the twilight zone. Even a player of Mohinder Amarnath’s calibre learnt it the hard way in the late 1980s. At the same time, maybe Shami has reasons to be frustrated, as India are still searching for his replacement.
Harshit Rana, who is tipped to be the next big thing in India’s fast-bowling pack, returned from the Asia Cup (T20 format) with an economy rate of 11.28 for his two wickets. He conceded 27 runs in four overs without a wicket on a spicy Perth pitch in the first ODI against Australia on Sunday. Rana shall overcome someday, but for the moment, given that Jasprit Bumrah will not feature in every white-ball series, India don’t have a quality third seamer beyond Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.
After the Australia tour, India’s next assignment is a full home series against South Africa that has two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is. Will Shami be considered, especially for the shorter formats? Logic says yes. The reality, though, could be different.
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