Former India and Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta has shared his views on the non-selection of veteran Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami in the Indian team and the ongoing debate regarding it. He has separated Test cricket from domestic cricket and supported Ajit Agarkar by challenging Mohammed Shami’s fitness again.
The trouble between Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami and current chief selector Ajit Agarkar has become clearly visible in recent times. After Shami was dropped from the Australia and South Africa series, the bowler himself criticized the selectors, claiming that the selection was due to lack of fitness.
Shami has proved his fitness in the last few months, he played for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and bowled long spells, while he made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and took many wickets. Shami played 7 matches in 2025 and took 16 wickets at an average of around 14.
Deep Dasgupta justified Mohammed Shami’s continuous non-selection
Former Bengal wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta has shared his views on the much talked about non-selection of fast bowler Mohammed Shami. The 35-year-old veteran last played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker.
During his appearance on YouTube channel KADAK, Deep Dasgupta said that there is a huge difference between domestic cricket and international Test cricket. He claimed that a bowler can easily sit out after a bowling spell in domestic matches, which is not the case in Test cricket. He also claimed that bowling is not the only proof of fitness.
“Look, when you talk about a Test match, there is a huge difference. You have to stay on the field for 90 overs, you have to bowl three spells and nobody will let you off the field.”
“So when we talk about fitness, it is not just about bowling fitness. It is something that we need to understand a bit. Right? In first-class cricket, it may happen that you bowl a spell and then go and sit. But in international cricket, nobody will allow you to sit out,” Dasgupta told the YouTube channel.
“You can just use a computer,” Dasgupta believes, adding that selection is not just about statistics.
The former Indian wicketkeeper continued and said that the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy will be an opportunity for the legendary fast bowler to prove his fitness standards.
Deep Dasgupta said, “I mean, if someone is fit enough to stay on the field for 50 overs and bowl 10 overs in three spells, then from that point of view the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be important in terms of fitness.”
According to the wicketkeeper, people often check the number of wickets through websites, but the selection is not done according to statistics alone; Otherwise, selectors would not be needed.
“Normally, the problem is that we go to some website and see how many wickets someone has taken or how many runs he has scored. This is a completely different approach. If that is the case, then there is no need for selectors either.”
“You can just use a computer, see who the top four wicket-takers are and who the top six batsmen are, and pick them,” he said.
“Sometimes numbers can be misleading” – Former Bengal wicketkeeper values ​​quality over quantity
He also claimed that going by numbers can be misleading, and that a bowler with the experience and ability of Mohammed Shami can take wickets even while blindfolded; Therefore, that should not be the category for selection.
“So in my view, it is important to look at the quality. Who has the performance been against, and how has it been? What pace is the bowler bowling at?” Dasgupta said.
However, before the selection he had claimed that if Mohammed Shami is bowling at the required level for international cricket then this should be kept in mind. If he is ready for that level, then undoubtedly he is a different class bowler.
“But my point is that you should not make decisions based on numbers alone. Sometimes numbers can be misleading,” concluded Deep Dasgupta.
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