India announced a 15-member Test squad led by Shubman Gill for the two-match series against South Africa starting November 14. The selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar retained several key players but left out some consistent domestic performers, sparking debate among fans and experts. Despite impressive performances in domestic cricket, particularly in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, certain players failed to secure spots in the national squad. Three cricketers stand out for their exceptional recent form and contributions in red-ball cricket. Middle-order batsman Karun Nair has scored heavily for Karnataka, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has proved his fitness with multiple wicket hauls for Bengal, and Rajat Patidar has displayed both batting prowess and leadership skills across various domestic tournaments. Their omissions have raised questions about selection criteria despite strong cases built on merit and consistent performances in India's domestic cricket structure.
Three Notable Omissions From The Squad
Karun Nair has been in outstanding form, scoring 73, 174 not out, and 233 in successive Ranji Trophy matches for Karnataka against Saurashtra, Goa, and Kerala respectively. Despite a difficult England tour earlier, his domestic performances earned him a place in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Mohammed Shami returned strongly after missing tours due to fitness issues, taking eight wickets against Uttarakhand and another eight-wicket haul against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain, led Central Zone to Duleep Trophy victory with scores of 125, 66, and 101, then struck an unbeaten 205 for Madhya Pradesh against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy while also captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup.
Source: Link