AB de Villiers slams India’s decision to remove Mohammed Shami despite 24 wickets at 2023 World Cup

In an unexpected turn, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) disclosed the 15-member squad for India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which begins on October 19, 2025, in Perth, and did so without including seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami. This decision has led to debates in the cricketing world, with former South Africa captain AB de Villiers raising strong objections to what he termed a “big call” by Team India.

AB de Villiers Questions Team India’s Move

AB de Villiers, the iconic South African batsman and a highly regarded figure in cricket, finally spoke out about Shami’s snub in a recent episode of his YouTube show on October 15, 2025. At the 11:56 mark in the video, de Villiers was candid, calling the exclusion a “big call from Team India.”

“It is a big call from Team India. It feels like, in a certain way, they’ve moved on from him. I don’t know the behind the scenes story, if there maybe a couple of niggles he’s still carrying. Maybe he lost a yard of pace and he doesn’t quite have that zip that he used to. Those could all play a part. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for him,” de Villiers mentioned this while talking to his audience on his personal YouTube channel.

 

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De Villiers, having retired from international cricket in 2018 yet still being a prominent commentator, reflected on his own experiences with pace bowlers. He pointed out Shami’s drop in speed as a possible warning sign, based on his observations from recent matches.

“If he can still find that extra yard of pace, as that is one thing I picked up—He lost a little bit of pace recently and maybe that is the reason why he is not in the national team anymore. But hopefully he makes a really good comeback. I am a big fan of Shami, he’s a wonderful bowler. Always asks questions of the batters,” he added.

His remarks spread like wildfire, boosted by cricket platforms such as Sportskeeda, which covered the segment just hours after it dropped.

De Villiers’ fair assessment—challenging the call while supporting Shami—struck a chord with fans who view the pacer as one of a kind.

India’s pace attack relies on Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for Australia tour

The BCCI’s choice of players shows a thoughtful shift. With Shubman Gill as captain and Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, the complete 15-member ODI team features: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (who’s the wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (also a wicketkeeper), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The pace attack is built around Siraj’s experience (who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 final), Arshdeep’s knack for death overs, Prasidh’s bounce that works well on Australian pitches, and the untested Harshit Rana’s raw talent from domestic competitions. This team is looking to make the most of Australia’s pace-friendly conditions without leaning on Shami’s proven expertise.

However, even Shami has declared that he is ready to play against Australia and he is physically fit but when it comes to his selection all lies in the hands of the selection committee, coach and captain.

 

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Selectors, under Ajit Agarkar’s leadership, have made fitness and current form their top priorities, especially with the 2027 World Cup approaching. Shami not being there shows India’s depth but also raises doubts about ignoring a World Cup standout.

Despite his pointed remarks, de Villiers ended on a hopeful note, praising Shami as “a very entertaining performer for Team India” and one who “always asks questions of the batters.” In the YouTube video, he reiterated: “He’s a wicket-to-wicket bowler and a great asset to have in the team if he’s in form, fit and raring to go. Obviously, it is very disappointing not to see him there.”