Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has said that no other national team player shows the same level of dedication in domestic cricket as Mohammed Shami.
Another series is just around the corner, yet the door to the national team remains closed for Shami. India did not include the experienced pacer in the squad for the upcoming home ODI series against New Zealand, a decision strongly criticized by Bengal’s head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
India announced a 15-member squad on Saturday for the three-match series at home. Shami’s omission has sparked discussion and debate, and his domestic coach Shukla is among those voicing concern.
There were reports in Indian media suggesting that Shami might be recalled. However, the right-arm bowler, who has taken 462 international wickets, was ultimately left out.
Shami was part of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning team. In that tournament, he took five wickets against Bangladesh in the opening match and claimed three wickets against Australia in the semi-final. But after conceding 74 runs in nine overs in the final, he has not received another opportunity in the national team.
At the domestic level, 35-year-old Shami has continued to perform consistently. In the last Ranji Trophy season, he was Bengal’s second-highest wicket-taker in first-class cricket. No Bengal player took more wickets than him in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.
In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shami has taken wickets in all five matches he has played so far, making him Bengal’s highest wicket-taker in this List A tournament to date.
Despite this, Shukla cannot accept the decision to keep Shami out of the national team. Speaking to RevSports, he said it sends the wrong message to domestic performers.
“The selection committee has treated Shami unfairly. Recently, no other Indian international has shown such dedication in domestic cricket. After working so hard at the domestic level, what the selectors have done to Shami is very disappointing.”
India’s ODI series against New Zealand begins on 12 January, with the second and third matches scheduled for 14 and 18 January.
