Mohammed Shami’s Fitness Woes Could Rule Him Out of England Test Series

India’s seamer, despite IPL outings, may not make the cut for the five-Test series in England due to concerns over his Test match readiness.

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May 24, 2025 | New Delhi – India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami is likely to miss the upcoming five-Test series in England, scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley, ESPNcricinfo has reported.

Shami, who has turned out for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, hasn’t built up the required workload to meet the high demands of Test cricket, despite being fit to bowl in T20s.

Also Read: IPL 2025: SRH’s Dominant Win Over RCB: Pat Cummins Praises Team Effort Despite Late-Season Surge

Key Concerns Over Test Readiness

A BCCI medical team member recently travelled to Lucknow to assess Shami’s fitness ahead of Hyderabad’s game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While no final decision has been made, selectors are reportedly leaning towards caution — meaning Shami could be left out unless medical assessments are favourable.

Shami’s last red-ball appearance came in the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023. His fitness has been a major concern since then — recovering from ankle surgery in early 2024, only to be troubled by pain in his right knee.

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Past Form & Current Stats

The 34-year-old’s domestic comeback saw him playing in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, grabbing seven wickets against Madhya Pradesh. However, despite hopes of a return during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, he remained absent.

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In IPL 2025, Shami has picked up six wickets in 13 games, with an average of 56.16 and an economy rate of 11.23, suggesting that he’s not yet at his peak.

Shami’s overall Test record remains impressive:

• 64 Tests
• 229 wickets at an average of 27.1
• 6 five-wicket hauls

Likely Replacements

If Shami is ruled out, selectors could turn to other pace prospects for the England tour, including:

• Prasidh Krishna
• Akash Deep
• Arshdeep Singh
• Mukesh Kumar
• Yash Dayal
• Anshul Kamboj
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Harshit Rana

What’s Next?

As India prepares for this crucial series, the final decision on Shami’s participation will depend on updated medical reports in the coming days.

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Mohammed Shami Injury, England vs India Test Series 2025, India Cricket Updates, IPL 2025 Performance, Indian Cricket Team Selection