Did Fitness, Form Cost Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer Their Spots for 1st Test vs B’desh?

BCCI has announced Team India’s squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, with star players Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant marking their return to the lineup. Rookie pacer Yash Dayal earned his maiden call-up to the Test squad.

However, seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami was not included, despite speculation of his availability. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer was also left out, even after an impressive half-century in the Duleep Trophy.

Questions have been raised over the absence of Shami and Iyer. According to a Times of India report, Shami might still be dealing with fitness issues. For Iyer, despite his fitness and performance in the domestic circuit, his inconsistent red-ball cricket performances and a poor 2024 season seem to have influenced the selection committee’s decision.

Iyer’s recent fitness struggles also played a role in his omission. His removal from BCCI’s central contracts, following his absence from the Ranji Trophy, reportedly left the board’s leadership and selectors dissatisfied. Even though Iyer appears to be regaining form, he may need to demonstrate greater consistency to earn a Test recall, especially with players like Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul also in contention for middle-order spots.

As for Shami, while BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier suggested his return for the Bangladesh series, the pacer is yet to clear the fitness benchmarks required for Test selection. Reports suggest Shami is expected to feature in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign, starting October 11. If he proves his fitness, his return to the national squad could follow shortly thereafter.