Fast-bowler Mohammed Shami has responded to chief selector Ajit Agarkar's claims on the former's lack of fitness being the reason behind his snub from
the Indian team for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia. Shami last played for India during the 2025 instalment of the Champions Trophy, and more recently had represented East Zone in a quarter-final clash in the Duleep Trophy.
Shami clearly expressed that there were no issues with her physical fitness and that he felt completely in control and in rhythm while bowling during the Duleep Trophy clash. He also opined that he did not feel any sort of discomfort whatsoever despite bowling long spells in the Duleep games, where the East Zone faced defeat at the hands of North.
"My fitness is also good. I will try to do better because when you are away from the ground, you need to remain motivated. I played in the Duleep Trophy. I felt very comfortable, my rhythm was good, and I bowled around 35 overs. There are no issues with my fitness,” stated Shami in a video on his YouTube channel.
Earlier, during a squad selection announcement ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia, selector Agarkar had urged Shami to attain game time before considering a call-up to the international side.
"I don't have an update. I think he has not played a lot of cricket in the last 2-3 years. I think he's played one match for Bengal and one for the Duleep Trophy. So as a performer, we know what he can do, but he will need to play some cricket," Agarkar had commented.
Shami was the leading wicket-taker for Indiaand overall at the 2023 World Cup. He had a whopping tally of 24 wickets to his name in seven matches. However, a protracted ankle injury during the tournament and recovery period kept him out of the reckoning for more than a year.
The right-armer was picked up during the Champions Trophy 2025. He was a crucial part of the team in their title-winning run. However, he did not have an IPL 2025 to remember where he represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Amroha-born could only pick up six wickets in nine matches at an expensive economy rate of 11.23.
