Mohammed Shami doubles down, refuses to buy Ajit Agarkar's comment about his fitness: 'Let him say whatever he wants'

[Lord]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

I am a big Shami supporter. 

 

But we are trying to build a team for the 2027 WC in SA  Shami will be officially 37 then and actually 40 in all probability. 

 

And he has hardly played in the last 2 years. Never been fully fit. 

 

A fit-to-bowl Shami is better than all the 4 pacers selected. But no way can the selectors be sure that there is even a 50% chance of getting that Shami after 2 years in the WC.

 

The selectors are trying to groom the next-in-line ODI pacers with an eye towards 2027 WC in SA where 3 pacers are needed. Can't blame them for this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where is this logic when they play over the hill batsmen like Rohit and Kohli

[Bigg Brother]

8 hours ago, Gollum said:

Agarkar is a weasel, period. 

 

When he was expert, itni badi badi baatein karta tha. 

He used to be strong anti dhoni during 2015-19 on espncricinfo..I liked him during that phase..

[Gollum]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

I am a big Shami supporter. 

 

But we are trying to build a team for the 2027 WC in SA  Shami will be officially 37 then and actually 40 in all probability. 

 

And he has hardly played in the last 2 years. Never been fully fit. 

 

A fit-to-bowl Shami is better than all the 4 pacers selected. But no way can the selectors be sure that there is even a 50% chance of getting that Shami after 2 years in the WC.

 

The selectors are trying to groom the next-in-line ODI pacers with an eye towards 2027 WC in SA where 3 pacers are needed. Can't blame them for this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But communication can be clear, no? Why was Agarkar lying about his fitness when he turned up for Bengal?

[Ultimate_Game]

2 hours ago, Lord said:

 

Where is this logic when they play over the hill batsmen like Rohit and Kohli

 

And TBH Shami offers a lot more than our over the hill batters coz we've better replacements for them in Jaiswal, Sai, Rinku Singh, Tilak, Parag etc. But we don't have comparable or decent replacements for Shami. If anyone who deserved to be picked out of these three it was Shami by a distance and he was also the only one out of the three who played domestic cricket.

 

Agarkar should be grilled on Shami's non-selection and selection of the other two useless has beens.

[putrevus]

5 hours ago, express bowling said:

I am a big Shami supporter. 

 

But we are trying to build a team for the 2027 WC in SA  Shami will be officially 37 then and actually 40 in all probability. 

 

And he has hardly played in the last 2 years. Never been fully fit. 

 

A fit-to-bowl Shami is better than all the 4 pacers selected. But no way can the selectors be sure that there is even a 50% chance of getting that Shami after 2 years in the WC.

 

The selectors are trying to groom the next-in-line ODI pacers with an eye towards 2027 WC in SA where 3 pacers are needed. Can't blame them for this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So in anticipation of Shami getting injured, you don't select Shami. Playing Shami in odis does not stop selectors from picking youngsters.

 

Bumrah got injured in CT and ICC test finals but when he is half fit they are playing him. What happens if he gets injured right before world cup.

 

So why is Shami being singled out.

Edited October 21, 2025 by putrevus

[putrevus]

4 hours ago, Lord said:

 

Where is this logic when they play over the hill batsmen like Rohit and Kohli

How are Kohli and Rohit over the hill in odis?

[Gollum]

8 hours ago, Lord said:

 

Where is this logic when they play over the hill batsmen like Rohit and Kohli

Bowlers are the Dalits of Indian cricket, without reservation benefits. Horses for courses mantra is applied exclusively to bowlers, that is why Ashwin was dropped so often in SENA while sub 20 averaging Rohit kept getting chances to correct his record. Earlier we used to bench our greatest matchwinner Kumble overseas while no one could touch Fab 4/5 super stars. 

[express bowling]

9 hours ago, Lord said:

 

Where is this logic when they play over the hill batsmen like Rohit and Kohli

 

Do you think Kohli and Rohit have been picked based on cricketing logic ?  Or the selectors had any real say in their selections ?

 

Apart from blind fans, everyone know that it is a big risk picking 2 over the hill batters who are hardly playing anything these days. 

 

Superstar batters are picked to rake in the moolah from fans ( huge in number ) who don't care about team results but just want their favourite players in the playing 11.  

 

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2025 by express bowling

[express bowling]

9 hours ago, Gollum said:

But communication can be clear, no? Why was Agarkar lying about his fitness when he turned up for Bengal?

 

Lack of communication and transparency are problems in India in general. 

[express bowling]

5 hours ago, putrevus said:

So in anticipation of Shami getting injured, you don't select Shami.

 

 

Anticipation of injury  !!!!

 

In 2024 and 2025, Shami has played 0 tests, 7 ODIs and 2 T20Is. Missed IPL 2024 due to injury and averaged 56 in IPL 2025. Huffed and puffed to the crease half the time he has played in 2025. Has looked semi-fit in almost every match he has played this year.

 

 

[ShoonyaSifar]

3 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Anticipation of injury  !!!!

 

In 2024 and 2025, Shami has played 0 tests, 7 ODIs and 2 T20Is. Missed IPL 2024 due to injury and averaged 56 in IPL 2025. Huffed and puffed to the crease half the time he has played in 2025. Has looked semi-fit in almost every match he has played this year.

 

 

Absolutely. By having a go at Chief Selector saying "If I am fit for Ranji, I am fit for ODIs. Not my job to update selectors" all Shami has done is drawn curtains on whatever remained of his career. Such drama befits our neighbours, doesn't work in Indian cricket. Any injured player has to report to NCA and get the fitness clearance from there. There cannot be an exception for Shami. NCA has issues but the system and process requires you to do that.

 

Anyone who saw him bowling in the Duleep Trophy in late August or even in the last Raji match can clearly see how out of shape he is in.

 

Could the communication have been better? Of course yes. But then it works both ways. If selectors didn't speak to him, no shame in a player reaching out to selectors

 Remember this same group of selectors waited to see if he could be fit for Aus series last year, took him straight to Champions Trophy after a long injury break, where despite taking wickets, he was looking breathless in the second half of most bowling innings, the trend continued in IPL. By having such unwarranted public outburst, while he will get him short term sympathy, safe to say it's the end of his illustrious India career now.

[putrevus]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Anticipation of injury  !!!!

 

In 2024 and 2025, Shami has played 0 tests, 7 ODIs and 2 T20Is. Missed IPL 2024 due to injury and averaged 56 in IPL 2025. Huffed and puffed to the crease half the time he has played in 2025. Has looked semi-fit in almost every match he has played this year.

 

 

So what he was injured then and he has been fit for while now why are they stopping him.

[crictime]

6 hours ago, ShoonyaSifar said:

Absolutely. By having a go at Chief Selector saying "If I am fit for Ranji, I am fit for ODIs. Not my job to update selectors" all Shami has done is drawn curtains on whatever remained of his career. Such drama befits our neighbours, doesn't work in Indian cricket. Any injured player has to report to NCA and get the fitness clearance from there. There cannot be an exception for Shami. NCA has issues but the system and process requires you to do that.

 

Anyone who saw him bowling in the Duleep Trophy in late August or even in the last Raji match can clearly see how out of shape he is in.

 

Could the communication have been better? Of course yes. But then it works both ways. If selectors didn't speak to him, no shame in a player reaching out to selectors

 Remember this same group of selectors waited to see if he could be fit for Aus series last year, took him straight to Champions Trophy after a long injury break, where despite taking wickets, he was looking breathless in the second half of most bowling innings, the trend continued in IPL. By having such unwarranted public outburst, while he will get him short term sympathy, safe to say it's the end of his illustrious India career now.

Good post. Very insightful regarding Shami's fitness and the way think tank waited for Shami till last moment before. 

[express bowling]

6 hours ago, putrevus said:

So what he was injured then and he has been fit for while now why are they stopping him.

 

Looked very unfit and overweight in the Duleep Trophy less than 2 months back. 

[putrevus]

2 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

Looked very unfit and overweight in the Duleep Trophy less than 2 months back. 

He still is better than all bowlers who are there now by a mile.

[putrevus]

 Players job is to report to NCA  after injury and rehab themselves and start playing games. It should not be their job to get fitness certificates and submit it Coach and selector.

 

What are NCA people doing, once players are out of NCA , it should be as good as players getting cleanchit on their fitness.

 

If they are not doing everything possible to get fit report that to BCCI.

 

Shami is 100%  right , it is not his job to run around with fitness certificates and inform Ajit Agarkar.  He is playing domestic cricket, it should imply that he is fit and is getting matches under his belt.

 

 

Did Bumrah produce match fitness certificate after his injury in England before Asia cup , if answer is yes , Agarkar should communicate it to Shami.

 

 

[Majestic]

Time to look beyond Shami.

 

India should focus on,

 

Harshit Rana

Kuldeep

Arshdeep

Siraj

Bumrah

[putrevus]

Rana is the last guy  who has to be given chances. This bozo cannot even become fit.I can understand being overweight before reaching Indian team. He is a disgrace  to fast bowlers.

 

Barely reaching 130 speeds.

[tweaker]

MOHAMMED SHAMI IN RANJI TROPHY 2025

14.5-4-37-3 in First matches

24.4-7-38-4 in First matches

18.3-6-44-3 in Second matches

10-1-38-5 in Second match we

 

15 WICKETS IN JUST 2 GAMES - SHAMI ON FIRE. A Big Statement ahead of South Africa Test series.

[Forever Indian]

If Shami is bowling at his usual pace, there is no reason to exclude him just because of age...

 

A lot of Indian bowlers usually reduce speed as they age reducing their effectiveness. Shami meanwhile post his injuries previously was able to maintain his pace of mid to high 130ks. So selectors will have to physically go to the venues he is playing to see how he is bowling...