NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill has admitted that leaving out Mohammed Shami from the squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa was a “tough call,” acknowledging the veteran pacer’s class and recent form in domestic cricket. Gill’s remarks came during the pre-match press conference in Kolkata on Thursday, ahead of the first Test at Eden Gardens, starting Friday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Shami, who impressed for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, was not included in the squad for the two-Test series — a decision that has sparked widespread debate among fans and former cricketers. Gill, leading India in the red-ball format, praised Shami’s unmatched skill and contribution while also backing the bowlers currently in the squad.
“Not many bowlers are of his quality. But the ones playing have done a terrific job. Sometimes it’s difficult for players like Shami bhai to miss out. The selectors will be able to give you a better answer to that,” Gill said.The 26-year-old skipper also spoke candidly about his own workload management, having recently been handed the responsibility of leading India in both Tests and ODIs, alongside his role as T20 vice-captain.
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Was leaving Mohammed Shami out of the squad the right decision?
“I am still trying to figure out how to manage it. Starting from the Asia Cup, we’ve been playing kind of back-to-back, travelling to different countries, switching between formats within four or five days,” he said. “The challenge is definitely more mental than physical.”Gill acknowledged the threat posed by the defending World Test Championship (WTC) winners, saying that India will need to be at their best to handle South Africa’s strong pace attack and balanced side.“We know that it won’t be easy against the reigning WTC champions. There will be tough moments, but we have handled them well. These two Tests are important in the race to the WTC final,” he added.As India gear up for a high-stakes home series, Gill’s measured comments underline both his growing maturity as captain and the team’s respect for Shami’s experience — even as the selectors opt for a younger pace lineup.
