Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill
NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill has admitted that leaving Mohammed Shami out of the squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa was a “tough task”, acknowledging the veteran pacer’s class and recent form in domestic cricket. Gill’s remarks came during Thursday’s pre-match press conference in Kolkata, ahead of the first Test at the Eden Gardens, which starts on Friday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Shami, who impressed for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, was not included in the squad for the two-Test series – a decision that sparked widespread debate among fans and former cricketers. Gill, India’s leader in the red-ball format, hailed Shami’s unmatched skills and contribution while backing the bowlers currently in the squad.“Not many bowlers have his quality. But those who are playing have done a great job. Sometimes it is difficult to miss a player like Shami bhai. The selectors will be able to give you a better answer for that,” Gill said.The 26-year-old skipper also spoke candidly about his own workload management, having recently been given 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’m still trying to figure out how to manage it. Starting with the Asia Cup, we’ve played back-to-back, traveling to different countries and switching between formats in four or five days,” he said. “The challenge is definitely more mental than physical.”Acknowledging the threat posed by the defending World Test Championship (WTC) champions, Gill said India will have to be at their best to handle South Africa’s strong and balanced attack.“We know it won’t be easy against the reigning WTC champions. There will be tough times, but we handled them well. These two tests are important in the race to the WTC final,” he added.As India prepare for a high-stakes home series, Gill’s measured comments underscore both his growing maturity as a captain and the team’s respect for Shami’s experience – even if the selectors opt for a younger squad.
