'Everything in Indian cricket runs on indirect speech': India legend weighs-in on Mohammed Shami-Ajit Agarkar exchange

India legend weighs-in on Mohammed Shami-Ajit Agarkar exchange (AP Photos)

The recent exchange between Mohammed Shami and Ajit Agarkar exposed clear communication gap between players and the management. After Shami was not considered for either white-ball formats in the ongoing tour of Australia, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar blamed it on the pacer's fitness.

However, when Shami showed up to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy he pointed fingers at the selection committee and laid some blunt points regarding his fitness.

This didn't stop there as Agarkar responded to Shami's remarks and the latter once again commented on it, further escalating the matter.

Ravichandran Ashwin has now opined on the fresh controversy, highlighting major lapse in Indian cricket that he hopes change in the coming future. "I will say one thing frankly, everything in Indian cricket runs on indirect speech. I really wish that it changes. 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 opined while speaking on his YouTube channel.

Also Read | Virat Kohli advised to 'avoid arguing with himself' after maiden ODI duck in Australia

"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," the former India spinner added.

When hard work meets experience, results look like this! well done bengal boys #RanjhaTrophy #Mdshami11 #Shami #GameChanger pic.twitter.com/Jlp4PGvP9j

— (@MdShami11) October 18, 2025

Shami was named Player of the Match in the Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Uttarakhand in Kolkata. He registered three scalps in the first innings, but all of those were of tail-enders. He added four more scalps to his tally as Bengal crushed the opponent by eight wickets.