AB de Villiers Says Team India Has Moved On From Shami After Champions Trophy

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has voiced his surprise over Mohammed Shami's exclusion from India's white-ball squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, suggesting the selectors may have shifted focus away from the veteran fast bowler. The 35-year-old Shami, a key figure in India's 2023 ODI World Cup campaign and the joint-top wicket-taker in the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph, was omitted from the ODI and T20I squads announced earlier this month. The tour, comprising three ODIs starting October 19 in Perth and three T20Is, marks a transitional phase for India under new ODI captain Shubman Gill, with veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning but Shami notably absent.

Shami's international career has been plagued by persistent injuries since the 2023 World Cup final, where he sustained an ankle issue requiring surgery, followed by knee complications that sidelined him for over a year. His return in the 2025 Champions Trophy saw him claim 10 wickets in five matches, including a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, tying him with Varun Chakravarthy as India's leading performer. However, a lacklustre IPL 2025 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad—where he took just six wickets in nine games at an economy rate exceeding 11—raised questions about his form and pace.

Despite a strong domestic comeback in the Duleep Trophy, where he bowled 35 overs comfortably, and selection for Bengal's Ranji Trophy campaign, Shami has not featured in India's Test side since the 2023 World Test Championship final. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited a lack of fitness updates from Shami as a factor in his omission, prompting the pacer to affirm his readiness on his YouTube channel: "My fitness is good... Getting selected is not in my hands."

In a video on his YouTube channel, de Villiers, a self-proclaimed "big fan" of Shami, described the decision as "a big call" and speculated on underlying reasons. "It feels like, in a certain way, they've moved on from him. I don't know the behind-the-scenes story; maybe there are a couple of niggles he's still carrying. Maybe he lost a yard of pace, and he doesn't quite have that zip that he used to," he said.

The 40-year-old, who faced Shami in international cricket, praised the Indian's skill set: "He's a wonderful bowler. Always asks questions of the batters. He's a wicket-to-wicket bowler and a great asset to have in the team if he's in form, fit, and raring to go." De Villiers expressed disappointment at the absence of such an "entertaining performer" but remained optimistic, adding, "It doesn't mean it's the end of the road for him. If he can still find that extra yard of pace... hopefully he makes a really good comeback."

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The snub has sparked debate among fans and analysts, with social media reactions highlighting frustration over perceived BCCI politics and Shami's overlooked contributions in ICC events. Shami's camp views his Ranji Trophy performances—where he leads Bengal's pace attack alongside Akash Deep—as crucial for a potential recall, especially ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

As India prioritises youth integration with players like Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna in the pace unit, Shami's experience in seaming conditions Down Under could yet prove invaluable. De Villiers' verdict underscores the fine line between loyalty to veterans and building for the future in a squad eyeing sustained white-ball dominance.

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