Sourav Ganguly said Mohammed Shami deserves a place in the Indian Test team after all he has done for the side over the years and opined that the right-arm quick can still win matches on his own.
It wasn’t the best Test wicket, but unfortunately India lost – Sourav Ganguly
India lost the Test series opener against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata within three days as the pitch produced for the match over-supported the bowlers and the batters had a terrible time.
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The home side were given a small target of 124 runs to chase in the final innings, but they failed to do so and were bowled out for just 93 runs, resulting in a 30-run loss.
After the match, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said the pitch produced for the match was not good.
Ganguly also revealed that Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir had requested such a surface, and the Eden Gardens pitcher simply agreed to his demands.
“There is no controversy. It was not the best Test wicket but unfortunately India lost. And they should have still got 120. It was not the best Test wicket. Gambhir said they wanted such a pitch and they themselves had instructed the curator,” Ganguly told India Today.
“Yes, that’s true – instructions have been given, and I’m just repeating what I said earlier. I’m very fond of Gautam; he has done well for India in England, in ODIs, in T20 cricket. We will continue for a while, but we have to play on good pitches.”
I think Shami deserves a place in this Test team – Sourav Ganguly
Mohammed Shami has not played for Team India since he featured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The selectors have apparently moved on from him and have denied selecting him in any of the squads despite the pacer performing well in domestic cricket.
In the first three Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal in the current season, he finished with 15 wickets at an average of 15.53 and a strike rate of 37.2. Despite this, he was not considered for selection and even got into a war of words with chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir would hand a recall to Mohammed Shami and added that he can win Test matches for India.
“He has to have faith in Bumrah, Siraj and Shami. I think Shami deserves a place in this Test team. Shami and the spinners will win Test matches for him,” Sourav Ganguly said while talking to Sports Tak. “Win Test matches in five days, not three days,” Ganguly added.
Disappointing to see India battling spin – S Badrinath
Watching the Indian batters’ struggle against the spinners in the first Test against South Africa, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman S Badrinath was left disappointed.
“Disappointing to see India’s batting strength against spin declining as the visiting spinners continue to improve with each tour, the opposite of how it used to be. #SAvIND #CricItWithBadri #TeamIndia,” the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star wrote on X.
Disappointing to see India’s batting against spin declining as the visiting spinners continue to improve with each tour, the opposite of how it used to be.#SAvIND #CricItWithBadri #TeamIndia
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) November 16, 2025
Also read: ‘India deserved to lose after preparing that pitch at Eden Gardens’: Michael Vaughan goes bold
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