Revealed: Why Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami were not picked in India's Test squad vs Bangladesh?

2 most notable omissions from India's Test squad vs Bangladesh were Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday, September 8, announced a 16-member squad for India’s first Test of the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

This India vs Bangladesh Test series will mark the beginning of India’s international home season for 2024-25.

The opening test of the series will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19, while the final game will be played from September 27 in Lucknow.

The Men in Blue will also play a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh after the Test series.

Shreyas Iyer's recent struggles lead to his omission from Test squad

While Rishabh Pant’s long-awaited return to the Test team after nearly 20 months made the headlines, Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion for the first Test against Bangladesh stunned many, questioning the selectors’ surprising call.

Iyer's omission from India’s 16-member Test squad has raised eyebrows, especially after his recent comeback in ODIs and a notable half-century in the Duleep Trophy for India D.

However, a closer look at his form throughout the year may justify the national selectors' bold call.

The right-handed batter’s year has been marked by setbacks, including an injury during the Test series against England, which kept him out of action for a while.

Later, his denial to play in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai led to his exclusion from the BCCI's central contracts, further hurting his chances.

🚨 NEWS 🚨- Team India's squad for the 1st Test of the IDFC FIRST Bank Test series against Bangladesh announced.

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep… pic.twitter.com/pQn7Ll7k3X

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2024

His red-ball performances have also been inconsistent recently in tournaments like the Buchi Babu Invitational and the first innings of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024.

These factors, along with the fierce competition for middle-order spots, have likely played a role in the selectors leaning toward other options like Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul—both are in good form.

Mohammed Shami left out of Test squad as India prioritizes long-term fitness

On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, a vital cog of India's pace attack, has faced a challenging year with injuries sidelining him for much of 2024. Mohammed Shami was last seen in action in the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia.

Mohammed Shami's absence from the squad for the opening Test against Bangladesh surprised some, especially with talks of his potential comeback with the home series.

However, it seems that the BCCI is not in a hurry to bring Mohammed Shami back into action without completing his recovery, and that’s why it's possible he was not picked for the Chennai Test against Bangladesh.

Earlier, the Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinted at Mohammed Shami's comeback with the Bangladesh Test, but now the team management seems committed to giving him ample time to regain peak fitness.

Instead of rushing him back into the international setup, Shami is set to turn out for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, starting on October 11, to build up his match sharpness ahead of India’s three-match series against New Zealand.

However, the reports also suggested that Shami might miss the first Test against New Zealand as well, as India aims to gradually reintroduce him to competitive cricket.

Considering his crucial role in India's pace arsenal, the Indian team is prioritizing his long-term fitness, with major Australia tours and the Champions Trophy 2025 looming on the horizon.