EXPLAINED - No Shreyas Iyer, no Mohammed Shami: The story behind their exclusion from first Test vs Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant has been named in India's 16-man squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, marking his return to the Test side after nearly 20 months. Virat Kohli, who had missed the earlier home series against England due to the birth of his second child, and Jasprit Bumrah, absent since the T20 World Cup, have also been included in the squad for the opening Test.The first Test between India and Bangladesh will kick off on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, followed by the second and final Test at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, starting on September 27.The squad announcement also raised eyebrows with the absence of key players like Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami. Iyer’s exclusion comes as a surprise to some, considering his recent form in ODIs and a solid half-century in the Duleep Trophy. However, his inconsistent performances in red-ball cricket, coupled with a difficult 2024, seem to have influenced the selectors’ decision.Earlier this year, Iyer suffered an injury during the Test series against England, which sidelined him. Additionally, his removal from BCCI's central contracts, following his unavailability for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, further impacted his selection chances. His recent showings in longer formats, such as the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament and the Duleep Trophy's first innings, were less than impressive.Iyer also guided Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL 2024 title win.The competition for middle-order spots in the Indian Test side has also intensified, with Sarfaraz Khan’s rise and KL Rahul's consistent performances pushing Iyer down the order.As for Mohammed Shami, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had hinted at his potential return for the Bangladesh series. However, Shami is still working on his comeback and wasn’t named in the Test squad. Instead, Shami is expected to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, starting on October 11, before making himself available for national selection.There is also speculation that Shami could miss at least the first Test of the subsequent three-match series against New Zealand.