Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has expressed his disappointment over the team management’s decision to completely overlook veteran pacer Mohammed Shami across formats.
Recently, Srikkanth was asked about India’s possible fast-bowling options for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He immediately highlighted his concerns over Shami being left out of contention for a place in the squad. Shami was India’s leading wicket-taker during the 2023 ODI World Cup, claiming 24 wickets in the tournament. However, he has not featured for India since the Champions Trophy 2025. Despite showing good form in domestic cricket, the experienced pacer was not selected for any series.
Speaking on Star Sports, Srikkanth said that while players like Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Mohsin Khan are promising options and still have enough time to push for World Cup selection, Shami’s exclusion remains surprising.
“Shami was an outstanding bowler. I am surprised the management has turned him into a nobody,” Srikkanth said.
The former India skipper also highlighted the importance of Jasprit Bumrah for India’s chances in the 2027 World Cup. He stressed that managing Bumrah’s workload will be crucial ahead of the tournament.
According to Srikkanth, Bumrah remains India’s biggest match-winner and a key factor in their World Cup hopes. He added that apart from Bumrah, pacers like Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj could also play an important role, especially in South African conditions.
Srikkanth also shared his views on Arshdeep Singh, stating that the left-arm pacer should not be considered for the ODI format. He pointed to India’s T20I series against England as an example and said Arshdeep is highly effective when the ball moves early but struggles once conditions become less favorable.
He explained that after the initial overs, the ball does not swing as much in 50-over cricket, which could make it difficult for Arshdeep to maintain his impact throughout the innings. Srikkanth believes the pacer should not be part of India’s ODI plans at this stage.