“But why is he talking all of this?” - Ravi Ashwin opens up on Mohammed Shami and Ajit Agarkar controversy

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has opened up on the controversy surrounding Mohammed Shami and Ajit Agarkar after the former wasn’t selected for the Asia Cup 2025 campaign and the ongoing Australian tour.

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Most recently, Agarkar had asserted that Shami wasn’t fit enough to get selected for the national team. He also added that he recently got in touch with Shami on a phone call. However, Shami, in response, emphasized that he had played the Duleep Trophy 2025 campaign, and he is also featuring in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign. 

Furthermore, Shami also lashed out at the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, for placing the onus of announcing fitness on players instead of having direct communication with the Centre of Excellence (CoE). He also slammed the committee for having a lack of communication with players directly. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin has reckoned that Indian cricket always runs on indirect speech, which he wishes to see a change in the future. He also hoped that the phone call had really happened between the duo.

"I will say one thing frankly, everything in Indian cricket runs on indirect speech. I really wish that it would change. It has to change from both the players' side and the selectors' side as well. What I have noticed is that if something indirect is said, it is bound to come out in the news,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. 

Look what Shami did. He performed and then talked in the press conference; there is nothing wrong with that. But why is he talking all of this? Because he does not have clarity. But, at the same time, I really loved how Ajit Agarkar handled it. I really hope that phone call has happened," he added.

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