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Mohammed Shami was once again missing as the selectors picked the squad for the South Africa Test series at home. With questions over Shami's fitness, India snubbed him from the squads for the Australia and England tours earlier this year. After he was left out of the home series against the West Indies, following which Shami had dismissed fitness concerns, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Shami would have to prove his fitness in domestic cricket to make a case for a comeback. Shami roared in the Ranji Trophy, taking 15 wickets in two games, but failed to make a cut to the squad. He was not even selected for the India A squad against South Africa A, which would have given a clear evaluation of where he stands in terms of match fitness and form. End Of Road For Mohammed Shami?Speculations are rife that India might have already seen the last of Shami in international cricket. Shami is already out of contention in ODIs and T20Is, with India having a plethora of young and performing players, but he still could have been an asset for the Shubman Gill-led side in Tests, especially in overseas conditions. India only play two Tests in New Zealand outside the subcontinent in the ongoing WTC cycle and have series against South Africa and Australia at home. Their only other away series is against Sri Lanka, but the conditions will be similar to India. In the subcontinent, India mostly plays a spin-heavy attack, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as lead pacers, and the selectors are unlikely to change the combination in the current cycle, especially given the fact that their next series after the two Tests against South Africa will be in August 2026, after a gap of nearly nine months. Shami might do well in the Ranji Trophy, but that performance won't be counted next year, and at 36, the comeback would be very, very unlikely. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world.
