Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has shed light on Mohammed Shami’s exclusion for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Shami has scalped 11 wickets in five matches of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy while playing for Bengal, but he has been continuously ignored by the selectors.

Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh have been picked as the four pacers in the team for New Zealand ODIs.

Meanwhile, Shami last played for India in the Champions Trophy but since then he has failed to receive consistent chances due to fitness issues. However, Shami has proved his fitness in the domestic circuit and his performances have also been up to the mark. Furthermore, Shami scalped 20 wickets in four Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 18.60.

Uthappa reckons Shami’s fitness has been an issue and thus the selectors have not picked him in the squad.

Robin Uthappa said on his YouTube Channel, “I think they want him [Shami] to be 100 percent fit. I don’t think he’s 100 percent fit in my view. One thing you need to understand [is] that you can play first-class cricket. I think his one problem is, and again, I haven’t talked to Shami. I’ve no information about this, but the one [thing] I know [is] that there is a concern for the selectors or the BCCI is that his left knee swells. He gets a lot of swelling there, right?

“I don’t know if that is fully addressed, so I think maybe that is it. Again, I don’t know. It’s my speculation. I would love to learn more about this. I haven’t put a lot of effort to learn more about this.”

Shami has performed consistently and he would look to keep up the good show in the domestic circuit.