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Mohammed Shami has not played for the India National Cricket Team for a long time now, and his childhood coach, Mohammed Badrauddin, believes that the experienced fast bowler has been ignored unfairly by the national selectors and team management headed by Gautam Gambhir.
Badrauddin has questioned Shami’s non-selection for the recent ODI series in England despite doing well in domestic cricket. He feels India missed the experience of Shami in English conditions. The coach even backed the pacer to be part of India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa. Amid this, Mohammed Shami opens up on Hindu-Muslim debate & Team India's environment.
Mohammed Shami unfairly ignored? Coach makes bold claim
Mohammed Shami last represented the India National Cricket Team at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Since then, the selectors have been ignoring Shami despite his performing consistently in domestic cricket, as they decided to groom the young bowlers in the format.
Gurnoor Brar was handed the ODI debut cap on the England tour, but it was a nightmare tour for the bowler as he conceded 61, 67, and 97 runs in the three matches. Prince Yadav also got one chance but could not make an impact, giving away 79 runs in his only ODI appearance on the tour.
Mohammed Badrauddin has stressed that such poor performances showed how difficult it is for young fast bowlers to perform in overseas conditions. Given that, the coach feels experienced bowlers like Shami could have been really helpful in the English conditions.
Badrauddin was quoted as saying by India. Today: “India did not bowl well in England, where the fast bowlers get a lot of help. Shami could have been really useful there. It is not easy to bowl in South Africa. You need experience there.”
Mohammed Shami's coach reveals why India cannot ignore him for 2027 ICC World Cup
He also believes that Shami's experience will be even more useful in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, where the 2027 ODI World Cup will be played. The coach even highlighted Shami's strong domestic performances, as the senior bowler scalped 37 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy matches last season.
Despite constant snubs, Badrauddin said Shami has not lost hope, as the veteran pacer is fully motivated and is working even harder to make India's comeback. Amid this, India-Bangladesh series not cancelled yet, BCCI waiting for government's green signal.
The coach added, “Shami's mood is positive. He is quite motivated for the next season. He still has cricket left. He is ready, and if the country needs him, he will be ready to serve.”
Mohammed Shami's coach blasts India's fitness approach over recurring injury crisis
Badrauddin also spoke about the growing injury problems among Indian fast bowlers. He noted that modern training focuses too much on gym workouts and indoor fitness sessions, and that’s where the team is making a mistake. He also slammed India's busy cricket schedule as the fast bowlers do not get enough time to recover between series and tournaments.
He signed off by saying, “The focus is on indoor training and the gym. You need ground fitness for fast bowling. Running, sprinting. That's what the focus should be. You can get shape in the gym, but not stamina. Whatever the physio says you have to do, you have to do it. But separately, you have to get onto the ground and build your running muscles as well.”
