Navjot Singh Sidhu Shows Support for Mohammed Shami Ahead of England Tour
Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has come out in support of Mohammed Shami, who is facing speculation about his place in the squad for the upcoming tour of England. Shami hasn’t played a Test match in over 23 months, with his last outing being against Australia in the World Test Championship earlier this year. He made his return to international cricket in January following a lengthy injury break.
Despite his return, Shami’s performance in the Indian Premier League 2025 has been less than stellar, managing only six wickets in nine matches. Many observers feel he is struggling with his form in the T20 format, raising concerns about his readiness for Test cricket. Nonetheless, Sidhu remains confident in Shami’s abilities, highlighting his skill in generating movement off the red ball.
“Many might think Shami is costly in the shorter formats, but that’s not correct. When bowling with the red ball, its pronounced seam allows Shami to make it move off the surface significantly, which can create more challenges than conventional air swings. As a red-ball bowler, he is undoubtedly a match-winner,” Sidhu remarked in a recent interview.
Shami has played 14 Tests in England, taking 42 wickets with an average of 40.50, and his best performance being 4 for 57 in an innings. During his absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the burden of leading India’s bowling attack fell solely on Jasprit Bumrah, who did exceptionally well, claiming 32 wickets in ten matches. However, Bumrah lacked adequate support throughout the series.
Therefore, Shami’s inclusion in the squad for England is expected to be vital in assisting Bumrah and helping India end an 18-year wait for a Test series win on English soil.
