“He should be an integral part”: Dilip Vengsarkar backs Mohammed Shami for India return

Mohammed Shami has been out of India National Cricket Team for a long time now. Despite good performances in domestic cricket and IPL, he has not been able to make a comeback to the side after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. Now, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar also believes that Shami should be included in the Test team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced the squad for the ODI and T20I series against West Indies, and Mohammed Shami’s name has been missing yet again. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, who announced his final squad before his tenure ends, ignored the veteran fast bowler for the upcoming series.

“I don’t know why”: Dilip Vengsarkar on Mohammed Shami being out of the team

While speaking in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Dilip Vengsarkar said that he does not understand why Mohammed Shami has been out of the Men in Blue team for so long, as he has done very well in domestic and international cricket, and the former India batter believes that the pacer should be a key part of the squad.

“I don’t know why he (Mohammed Shami) has been sidelined, to be honest with you. He has done extremely well in domestic cricket as well as international cricket. He is a very good bowler, and he should be an integral part of the Indian team. Apart from that, we have (Jasprit) Bumrah and other players.”

“But what I feel is that the more they bowl, the fitter they will get. I don’t believe in workload management at all because if you want to be effective and match-fit, you have to play matches. You have to bowl in the nets as much as possible,” said Vengsarkar in an exclusive interview with RevSportz.

Dilip Vengsarkar feels Mohammed Shami and Auqib Nabi should be picked for New Zealand series

Dilip Vengsarkar further stated that Shami should be included in the next Test series, which is against New Zealand. He also spoke about Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi, who has been excellent in the last <a href="https://cricket.international/umesh-yadav-gets-noc-from-vidarbha-set-to-join-new-state-for-ranji-trophy-2026-27-season/" title="Umesh Yadav gets NOC from Vidarbha, set to join new state for Ranji Trophy 2026/27 season”>Ranji Trophy and helped the side to win their maiden title. The former batter believes that they should be given chances, keeping their form in mind.

According to him: “Shami should be in the Test squad for the New Zealand series. I don’t know why he is out of the team. And, there is another guy called Auqib Nabi, who did so well for Jammu and Kashmir. He almost single-handedly helped them win the Ranji Trophy.”

“I think these players should be given an opportunity because he has taken more than 100 wickets in two seasons. That’s a hell lot of wickets.”

“It is a waste of time”: Dilip Vengsarkar calls Ranji Trophy waste of time

Vengsarkar also slams the Indian selectors for not taking the Ranji Trophy as a selection criterion. He asks the players not to feature in the tournament if no one gets picked after performing in the premier domestic tournament of the country, as he feels that performing and not getting a call-up is a waste of time.

“If you feel that these domestic games are not criteria for selection to the Indian team, then scrap the Ranji Trophy. Don’t play the Ranji Trophy. Why do you want to play it? These players are working hard. They are winning matches. They are taking wickets. If they are not rewarded with an India cap, then it is a waste of time.”

Source: cricketaddictor.com