Veteran India pacer Mohammad Shami has blamed the Indian team management for miscommunication and has taken a subtle dig at them after he was snubbed for the Australia ODI and T20I series down under. Shami denied fitness rumors, maintaining he is match-ready despite not making the limited-overs teams.  

The Indian pacer further stated that the communication gap was with the management, not with him, and that if he is fit enough to play four-day Ranji Trophy matches, he is equally capable of handling the demands of 50-over cricket.

Meanwhile, Shami has been named in the Bengal Ranji Trophy squad, captained by Abhimanyu Easwaran, for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, which begins on October 15.

"The Indian team didn't communicate with me regarding fitness. I am not the one who would inform them about my fitness—they have to ask me. If I can play four-day cricket, then why can't I play a 50-over game? If I wasn't fit, I'd be at the NCA and not playing here in the Ranji Trophy," Shami said, as per India Today.

Shami's comments contrasted with those of BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who provided a different explanation for the pacer's omission. Agarkar recently addressed the media, stating that there had been no new developments on Shami and citing his limited playing time in prior seasons.

"I have no update. He has played in the Duleep Trophy. But in the last two or three years, he hasn't played a lot of cricket. I think he played one game for Bengal and one in the Duleep Trophy. As a performer, we know what he can do, but he has to play cricket," Agarkar had said while announcing India’s squad.

Shami last played for India in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win. He took a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in what was his comeback match for India after the 2023 World Cup final.

He remained wicketless in the next two games but regained form with a three-wicket performance against Australia in the semifinal and a wicket in the final against New Zealand.