New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled Team India’s squad for the forthcoming One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. The Indian team will face the Black Caps in three ODIs followed by five T20I matches.
Notably absent from the ODI squad are prominent players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mohammed Shami. Despite an impressive performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 2025-26 season, Shami has not been selected.
Former India international Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on Shami’s exclusion, suggesting it was anticipated. “Shami’s exclusion was expected. There is no surprise in that. Unlike Virat or Rohit, Shami’s situation is different; when ODI cricket was paused, he wasn’t playing due to injury. People may disagree, but the perception of a batter and a bowler shifts. For fast bowlers, factors like run-up speed and rhythm are critical, and Shami’s case is primarily about optics. Do the selectors believe he can be part of the 2027 World Cup? There is a significant difference in the workload between a batter and a fast bowler,” Ashwin stated in a recent video on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin further discussed Shami’s potential feelings regarding his exclusion, stating, “If I were Shami, I would still feel unlucky. But the selectors have conveyed a consistent message over the last six months: they have no doubts about his quality but have chosen to move on. It is apparent. I did not expect him to be selected, and it was not surprising. They may not be considering him for future initiatives.”
