Ganguly Pushes for Shami's Recall to India's National Team

As of November 11th, 2025, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has urged the national selectors to bring back veteran pacer Mohammed Shami to the Indian team across all formats. Ganguly highlighted that Shami has been bowling exceptionally well and is fit, as evidenced by his recent performances in the Ranji Trophy.

In the first two Ranji Trophy matches this season, Shami took 15 wickets for Bengal. He bowled a total of 91 overs in the three matches, though he went wicketless in the game against Tripura. Ganguly praised Shami's ability to single-handedly win matches for his state team.

However, the 35-year-old pacer has not been selected for India's upcoming 2-Test series against South Africa, which is set to begin this Friday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Ganguly believes Shami's skill and fitness are still at the level that the selectors have come to expect from him, and he sees no reason why Shami cannot continue playing Test, ODI, and T20 cricket for India.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup still two years away, Shami's injury history in the past could be a factor the selectors are considering. But Ganguly remains confident that the experienced fast bowler should be a part of India's plans going forward.