Shubman Gill statement on Shami | IND vs SA 1st Test

By Priyanshu - Nov 13, 2025 03:47 PM
Last updated on Nov 13, 2025 03:51 PM

IND vs SA 1st Test: Shubman Gill's statement on Mohammed Shami - "It's hard to look beyond a bowler like Shami"

Ahead of the first Test match between India and South Africa, Indian captain Shubman Gill made a significant statement regarding veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami. The return of Shami, who has been out of the Indian team for a long time, has been a topic of constant discussion, and Gill's statement has further fueled that debate.

Questions about Shami's absence and selection

After the tours of England and West Indies, Mohammed Shami was not included in the squad for the South Africa series. His performance has led many former cricketers and fans to question the selectors' decision. Shami recently performed brilliantly for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, raising hopes of his return.

However, the team management and selectors have once again expressed confidence in the young bowlers. Reacting to the decision, Shubman Gill said,

"It's always difficult to look beyond an experienced bowler like Shami bhai. He's a great player, but the bowlers currently playing have performed exceptionally well. Sometimes this situation becomes difficult, and only the selectors can make the best decision."

Competition is Increasing the Difficulties

Gill also acknowledged that there is currently intense competition in the fast bowling department in the Indian team. Young bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep are performing consistently well. This has made securing or retaining a place in the team even more challenging.

He said that at this time of year, there is always a dilemma regarding whether to have an extra fast bowler or spinner.

"We will decide who will be in the final eleven after looking at the pitch conditions tomorrow," Gill added.

India's Probable Playing XI

• Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are almost certain to play for the first Test at Eden Gardens. Akash Deep is included in the team as the third fast bowler.
• India has excellent options in the spin department-Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav. Of these, Jadeja, Axar, and Sundar are also capable of king significant contributions with the bat.

India's Squad

Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Devdutt Padikkal.

South Africa's Squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Triston Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis, Zubair Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, and Simon Harmer.

The absence of an experienced bowler like Shami has raised many questions among fans, but Shubman Gill's stance is clear: the team management is focused on current performance and balance. Giving young players a chance is the right move for the future, although the return of a player like Shami will always be a significant boost for the Indian team.

It remains to be seen how India performs with its young fast bowling pair at Eden Gardens and whether the team can start the series with a win.

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