Even if Mohammed Shami doesn’t play all matches BGT, he must be in team. Sanjay Bangar

Mohammed Shami was supposed to return to professional cricket with the New Zealand series, but due to a swollen knee, he was not included in the lineup. Even though Shami isn’t now match fit, former cricket player Sanjay Bangar thinks the bowler should still go to Australia with the Indian team, even if he can’t participate in all five games.

The Indian squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand was just revealed. The first match is scheduled to start on October 16 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

India’s pace assault for the series consists of players like Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna Harshit Rana are the traveling reserves; they are all pacers in terms of bowling.

India will play Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, which consists of five Test matches, beginning on November 22 after this series concludes.

In response, Bangar said that the selection process should never be the same for all players, particularly for a senior bowler like Shami.

The selection criteria are never the same for every player. Some players find it quite easy. Additionally, the selectors ought to do it since a player who has a lengthy history of success and has never missed a match after beginning a Test match should be chosen. It’s also hugely significant. A senior player is exempt from taking a fitness test if selectors ask him if he is fit. “That player has to play that match if he claims to be fit,” Bangar said.

Sanjay Bangar believes that Mohammed Shami mental toughness is one thing that will work in his favor.

The former Indian batter also spoke about how crucial mental toughness is for athletes. Every athlete has a distinct mental pain threshold, and Shami’s is undoubtedly higher than many others’, in his opinion.

Next is the mental toughness point. There are players who have fewer pain barriers than others. But one significant element that will work in his favor is that, as far as I can recall, Mohammad Shami has not begun the test match and has not completed it,” he continued.

The Maharashtra native continued by citing the performances of seasoned pacers like Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma and contrasting them with Shami’s current state.

The Indian team’s substitute for Shami is another consideration. Right now, I don’t believe there is a substitute for Muhammad Shami. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma were present at one point. We don’t discuss Yadav much because he tends to get overlooked. In Indian conditions, he performed better than he did abroad. In test matches abroad, he was not given any opportunities. Yadav and other top-tier fast bowlers used to sit out during that period.

Also Read: ‘I’ve not beaten India in a Test series yet’- Pat Cummins eager to tick another box in BGT

Thus, I do not believe that the Indian team’s bench strength is present. Mohammad Shami should undoubtedly be included in the squad because it’s a lengthy test series, even if he doesn’t play in the opening game (in the series against Australia), Bangar said.