India, May 25 -- The omission may not have come as a complete surprise, but it somehow hints at a closing chapter. Mohammed Shami, one of India's most prolific red-ball bowlers, has been left out of the 18-member Test squad for the England tour, a decision that raises serious doubts about his future in the longest format.

While the BCCI cited fitness concerns, a former national selector minced no words when assessing the long-term picture. "If Mohammed Shami isn't available in Australia or England, why would the selectors pick him against West Indies and South Africa at home? They might as well use Akash Deep, Arshdeep, Harshit or Mukesh as Siraj or Bumrah's partner. Shami's body is ageing and one has to accept that he is no longer the b...