Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed strong support for Mohammed Shami’s return to the Indian national cricket team. Speaking in Kolkata ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9, Ganguly cited Shami’s recent performances as clear justification for his inclusion.

Ganguly made these comments during the inauguration of the third season of Bengal Pro T20 League on Tuesday. He praised Shami’s bowling and fitness despite his absence from the national team. The former BCCI president stressed that Shami’s role should be as Jasprit Bumrah’s new-ball partner – nothing else.

“He should be bowling at the other end to Bumrah, not anywhere else. He is that good. We all saw that spell the other night against Sunrisers Hyderabad – four overs, nine runs against the two best T20 players, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. That was phenomenal,” Ganguly said. Shami’s recent IPL performance in which he took 2 wickets for 9 runs And earned player of the match honors in Lucknow Super Giants’ win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Ganguly also highlighted Shami’s impact in domestic cricket, especially in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. He pointed to the 35-year-old’s hunger and consistency, noting his commitment to performing day in and day out despite being overlooked by the selectors.

“He had a very good Ranji Trophy season for Bengal. I still remember that semi-final – even though Bengal lost, he took eight wickets. He was instrumental in taking the team here,” he said.

‘Shami’s seam treat is worth watching’

Addressing the physical demands placed on fast bowlers, Ganguly welcomed Shami’s continued participation in the Ranji Trophy. “I am very happy that he wants to continue playing in the Ranji Trophy. It is tough for a fast bowler, but there is nothing better than watching Mohammed Shami play with the new ball,” he said.

“He looks fit and sharp. After bowling consistently for several months, you naturally get into peak condition – no amount of training matches that. I wish him all the best and would love to see him back in India colours,” Ganguly said.

Like millions of Indian cricket fans, Ganguly also admires Shami’s straight seam – a hallmark of his bowling that still stands out today.

Shami was one of the leading wicket-takers in this season’s Ranji Trophy with 37 wickets at an average of 16.72. Despite these performances, he has been sidelined by the Ajit Agarkar-led national selectors, and has yet to regain his place in the international team.

Ganguly highlighted the ongoing debate over selection policies and player management in Indian cricket, saying, “I still believe he should play for India. Hopefully his time comes again because he is so good. When the ball comes out with a straight seam, it is a sight to behold.”

The reason for Shami’s exclusion is not due to lack of performance. In the 2025–26 domestic season, he performed brilliantly for Bengal and took 67 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. his recent IPL Lucknow Super Giants’ form has been equally impressive; Most notably, he delivered a match-winning spell of 2 for 9 against SRH on April 5 – which included 18 dot balls.

In response to their continued omissions, Shami has been unusually vocal. He has strongly rejected any talk of retirement and has said that he would only retire when he felt bored or lacked motivation. Hinting at the deep disappointment, he suggested that lack of PR could be influencing selection decisions, with young pacers being given preference despite their proven technical ability.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has consistently said that the door is not closed. However, his comments indicate an emphasis on “match fitness” as a selection criteria – something Shami believes he has already demonstrated through his performances.

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