Revealed: Why Mohammed Shami was not picked in India's Test squad vs New Zealand?

India’s Test squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand has sparked excitement, with one notable name missing from the lineup, Mohammed Shami.

The seasoned pacer, who has been a crucial weapon in India’s bowling arsenal, has yet to recover from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since the ODI World Cup 2023 final in November 2023.

Mohammed Shami’s absence and Jasprit Bumrah’s vice-captaincy steal the spotlight from India’s preparations for the Australia tour

As India prepares for its final Test assignment before heading into the grueling Australia tour later this year, Mohammed Shami’s absence has raised questions about the Indian cricket team’s readiness for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has been named India’s vice-captain for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. With Rohit Sharma's participation in the first Test against Australia in doubt, Bumrah is all set to step into the captain's shoes once again.

Bumrah, who has already led Team India in a Test match against England in 2022, is now being groomed for bigger responsibilities, especially with Rohit’s potential absence looming large for the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia.

Mohammed Shami failed to recover in time for New Zealand Tests, eyes comeback on Australia tour

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami continues his recovery journey after undergoing surgery for his ankle injury. Fans had hoped to see the seasoned pacer back in action in the upcoming India’s home series against New Zealand, but the pacer has now set his sights on a comeback during the high-stakes five-match Test series in Australia.

Mohammed Shami’s absence in the spin-friendly Indian pitches for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand has given him more time to focus on regaining full match fitness, as his presence will be crucial when India faces the bouncy tracks Down Under.

On the other hand, Yash Dayal, who made his Test squad debut in the Bangladesh series, has been overlooked for the New Zealand Tests, with India's pace attack largely depending on the likes of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the fresh faces in the squad.

India’s bowling combination will be under the microscope, as the New Zealand Test series serves as a crucial tune-up ahead of the high-octane Australia tour starting in November.

India aims to win all WTC matches against New Zealand

Notably, Mayank Yadav, who made his T20I debut for India earlier this month against Bangladesh, will join the squad as a traveling reserve along with Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Notably, India’s upcoming Test series against New Zealand is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The Indian cricket team is currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table with an impressive 74.24 percentage points from 11 Test matches.

India have the remaining eight matches—three at home against New Zealand and five on the road against Australia—and they will be aiming to secure enough points to guarantee their spot in the WTC final without relying on outcomes from other teams.