Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has criticized the national team management for what he described as the complete sidelining of veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami across all formats. Speaking on Star Sports, Srikkanth was asked to assess potential fast-bowling options for the 2027 ODI World Cup and did not hold back his views on Shami's continued absence from selection contention. Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker at the 2023 World Cup with 24 dismissals, has not featured for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy, despite showing consistent form in domestic cricket.

Srikkanth pointed to a group of younger pacers — Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Mohsin Khan — as bowlers who should remain in contention, noting that with 15 months still remaining before the tournament, their selection prospects should not be dismissed. However, he expressed clear frustration over Shami's exclusion, calling him an "outstanding bowler" and stating he was surprised the team management had effectively reduced his standing within the setup. His remarks reflect a broader debate within Indian cricket circles over the balance between rewarding experienced performers and building a younger bowling attack ahead of the World Cup.

Turning to India's premier fast bowler, Srikkanth emphasized that managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload will be pivotal to the team's title chances. He described Bumrah as India's "uncut diamond" and suggested that the team's prospects of winning the World Cup hinge largely on his availability and fitness. According to Srikkanth, India would face a significant disadvantage without Bumrah, given the current depth of the bowling unit, though he acknowledged that pacers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj could play meaningful roles, particularly on South African pitches suited to fast bowling.

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Srikkanth also addressed left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh's suitability for the 50-over format, arguing that he should not be considered for ODI selection. He referenced Arshdeep's recent T20I series in England, noting that while the bowler is often effective with the new ball when there is lateral movement, his effectiveness drops sharply once the ball stops swinging. Srikkanth observed that after the first over, batters have been able to target him freely, reinforcing his view that Arshdeep's skill set is better suited to shorter formats rather than ODIs, where the ball tends to lose movement more quickly.

Taken together, Srikkanth's comments highlight the selection dilemmas facing India's team management as they begin shaping their bowling combinations for the 2027 World Cup cycle. With senior figures like Shami on the periphery and workload concerns surrounding key players like Bumrah, the coming months are likely to see continued debate over squad composition, form, and format-specific suitability among India's fast-bowling contingent.

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