NEW DELHI: After Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was ignored by the selectors for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, South African legend AB de Villiers made a stark suggestion about the bowler’s future with the national team. The veteran fast bowler’s continued exclusion, despite his proven ability to perform on the biggest stage, has been a major talking point in the cricket world.

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De Villiers, speaking on his personal YouTube channel, did not hide his surprise at the decision to leave out a player of Shami’s class. He offered an honest, but tough, assessment, suggesting that the Indian management might be moving on from the 35-year-old, pointing to a potential drop in his bowling speed as a key reason for the snub.

De Villiers speaking on his YouTube channel said that the decision to leave out Shami was a major, bold move, suggesting it feels like the team is already moving on from the veteran bowler. He questioned the full story behind the snub and wondered if small injuries were still playing a role.

“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.”

De Villiers further stated that the management's decision might come down to pace, adding, “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.”

Despite his concerns about Shami's speed, the legendary batsman clearly praised the Indian pacer's quality. He called Shami a highly valuable asset when fit, highlighting his accuracy and ability to ask questions of the batsmen.

“I am a big fan of Shami, he's a wonderful bowler. Always asks questions of the batters. 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.”

Mohammed Shami's stellar record in World Cups

Shami's World Cup record is extraordinary: across three ODI World Cups, Shami has taken an incredible 55 wickets in just 18 games, with a phenomenal average of around 13. This legendary record is what makes his current absence from the Indian team quite surprising.