‘The writing is on the wall’ – Aakash Chopra on Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence

The BCCI announced India’s squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against West Indies on September 16. The three-match ODI series begins on September 27, followed by a five-match T20I series from October 6. The Indian men’s selection committee, headed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, met in Delhi to finalise the squads.

Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has offered his perspective on two notable absences from the squad announcement. Chopra highlighted the non-selection of Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a significant decision by the selection committee, according to Sportskeeda. The exclusion of both players signals a shift in the selection committee’s approach to building the team for future tournaments.

“In all of this, there is no mention of Mohammad Shami anywhere. I think this was an important selection. There is a lot of overlapping happening, you are trying out a lot of new players. There is no Mohammad Shami and no Bhuvneshwar Kumar, so I think the writing is on the wall. When you look at it from Shami and Bhuvi’s point of view, I think this was a very important selection. You could have thought about Bhuvi for T20s and Shami for ODIs, but you are not thinking about it,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.

What Chopra said about the squad announcement?

Shami has not played for India since March 2025, while Bhuvneshwar has not featured in the national team since November 2022. The BCCI’s decision not to include either player in the squads for the West Indies series confirms they are not being considered as options for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. This marks a definitive turning point in the selection committee’s planning for the tournament.

The selection committee’s preference for newer players became evident through the inclusion of emerging talent in the squad. Chopra analysed the broader implications of this strategic shift, noting that the absence of both veterans alongside the inclusion of fresh names sends a clear message about the direction of Indian cricket. The analyst emphasised that this decision reflects the committee’s confidence in developing a new generation of players.

“When there are names like Auqib Nabi, Mayank Yadav, and Prince Yadav, and no Bhuvi or Shami, I think it tells us something. I think this is something that we should accept and realise that this is where we are. Make peace with it and keep moving on, that is what I think,” Chopra said.

Bhuvneshwar had claimed 28 wickets in the 2026 IPL edition at an average of 17.89, demonstrating recent domestic form. Despite his performance in the league, his exclusion from the West Indies squad underscores the selection committee’s preference for other options moving forward. The decision reflects a broader strategic shift away from the experienced campaigners towards building a team with a longer shelf life for future international tournaments.