Mohammed Shami hasn't been included in India's lineup for either the ODI or T20I series against South Africa and remains uncertain for the upcoming Test series, despite being listed in the 16-man squad for the two Test matches scheduled during India's tour of South Africa.
Mohammed Shami, who showcased exceptional performance in the 2023 World Cup, is currently undergoing medical treatment as per a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) statement. His participation in the two upcoming Test matches will be contingent upon his fitness, and a decision regarding his availability will be made later. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah has been given a rest for the white-ball fixtures to create opportunities for younger players.
“Mr. Rohit Sharma and Mr Virat Kohli had requested the Board for a break from the white-ball leg of the tour. Mr Mohd. Shami is currently undergoing medical treatment and his availability is subject to fitness.
#SAvIND,” a tweet by the BCCI handle reads.
The Indian team are gearing up for an extensive tour of South Africa, encompassing three T20Is and ODIs each, followed by a two-match Test series. Securing a series victory on South African soil would mark a historic achievement for India, also contributing to their aspirations in the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
After an impressive performance in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where Shami emerged as the leading wicket-taker despite missing the initial four matches, his form has been exceptional. Accumulating a total of 24 wickets in just seven matches underscores his remarkable contribution.
India's squads for the upcoming series are as follows:
Test Series:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd. Shami*, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna.
T20I Series:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar.
ODI Series:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.