‘He has lost a…’: AB de Villiers highlights why Mohammed Shami repeatedly gets sidelined from Indian side

Following a major drop the pace of Mohammed Shami, South African legend AB de Villiers feels that the Indian selectors have ‘moved on‘ from Shami and his career of repeated fitness concerns. This remark comes after the pacer was recently dropped from the two-match Test series against West Indies.

Mohammed Shami’s last appearance in the national colours was back in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand earlier this year. Even though he was the joint-highest wicket-taker for India: with 9 wickets in 5 matches, Shami has still been ignored from every format since then.

De Villiers believes Mohammed Shami has recently faced a drop in his pace and his fitness issues have also played a major role in him not being taken by the selectors in all the three formats. However, the South African legend still hopes that the pacer will make a comeback in the national side.

“It is a big call from Team India. It feels like, in a certain way, they’ve moved on from him. I don’t know the behind the scenes story, if there maybe a couple of niggles he’s still carrying. Maybe he lost a yard of pace and he doesn’t quite have that zip that he used to. Those could all play a part. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for him,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

“If he can still find that extra yard of pace, as that is one thing I picked up – He lost a little bit of pace recently and maybe that is the reason why he is not in the national team anymore. But hopefully he makes a really good comeback. I am a big fan of Shami, he’s a wonderful bowler. Always asks questions of the batters,” he added.