Test series against England: Should Mohammad Shami be included in India squad?

Veteran pacer Mohammad Shami has so far failed to impress with his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Hence question mark has been raised over his selection in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming England tour.

However, former India star turned cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu thinks otherwise. He has advocated for Shami’s selection.

In nine outings in IPL 2025, Shami has claimed just six wickets, conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.23. He has leaked runs in the powerplay and the death, and his poor show has contributed to SRH’s debacle.

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"Let me tell you about Shami — a lot of people might be thinking, 'No, he’s expensive with the white ball,' but that's wrong. When the red ball comes into play, the seam protrudes — it's almost upright, and it stays that way. When the seam hits, Shami makes it nip off the surface by about six inches, and that movement causes more trouble than the one that swings in the air. That’s why, as a red-ball bowler, he is a match-winner — out and out," said Sidhu in a recent interaction.

Notably, Shami has played 14 Tests in England, wherein he has claimed 42 wickets at an average of 40.50 with best figures of 4/57 in an innings.