On Saturday, May 24, the Indian cricket team for the upcoming tour of England was officially announced. Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the squad features a mix of young talent. Notably, experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami and middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan have been excluded from the team. Shami has been struggling to regain his form after returning from injury, and there are concerns about his fitness following reports of another potential injury. Consequently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted against taking any risks with his selection.

During the press conference, chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed Shami's situation, stating, "Mohammed Shami faced some issues last week, which led to an MRI. He is not fully fit yet. We do not want to take any risks on the England tour and are opting for a fit fast bowler instead." Shami has been struggling to find his rhythm since his return from injury. Although he made a comeback during the Champions Trophy, he did not appear to be in peak condition. His performance in the IPL also showed that he was not bowling at the pace he is known for.

According to sources, the BCCI medical team has indicated that Shami is currently unable to bowl long spells. As a result, the board has placed its trust in younger fast bowlers. Shami last played a Test match for India against Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship final. In addition to Shami's exclusion, the absence of middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan from the squad has raised eyebrows.

Sarfaraz Khan, who was eager to participate in the England tour and even lost weight in preparation, has surprisingly not made the cut for the team. He has played six Test matches for India so far, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, which includes one century and three half-centuries. Although he was included in the squad during the Australia tour, he did not get the opportunity to play in any matches.