Mohammed Shami was once again excluded as BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies.
Mohammed Shami Excluded as India Announce West Indies Test Squad
Mohammed Shami was once again excluded as BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies. Shami last played a Test for India in 2023, with his most recent international appearance during the Champions Trophy in March 2025. The veteran pacer has battled injuries over the past couple of years and even underwent ankle surgery after the ODI World Cup 2023.
When asked about Shami’s fitness, Agarkar said, “I don’t have an update. But he’s not had a lot of cricket. In the last two-three years, I think he’s played one match for Bengal and one match in the Duleep Trophy.”
Mohammed Shami, the third fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests.
Ravindra Jadeja has been appointed vice-captain for the West Indies Test series, as Rishabh Pant will only be available for the South Africa Tests. Agarkar noted, “Rishabh is the vice-captain at the moment and a key player. But unfortunately, he hasn’t quite recovered to make this particular Test series. We’re hopeful that he’ll be available for South Africa. And Jadeja has been one of your top performers.”
The South Africa series will feature two Tests in Kolkata and Guwahati from November 14 to 26, followed by a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series. The tour will conclude with the final T20I on December 19.
India’s 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against West Indies:
Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.