Mohammed Shami, the right-arm fast bowler who once took a hat-trick in the 2019 World Cup against Afghanistan, has found no place in the Indian team for the upcoming Australia tour.
With these latest developments, one question echoes among fans “is this the end of the road for Mohammed Shami in Team India?” After his heroics in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami faced a major setback due to ankle surgery, keeping him out of action for 14 months before making his much-awaited comeback in January 2025.
Before his return, he proved his fitness by participating in domestic cricket; however, his performances were not up to the mark. Shami’s last appearance in the Indian jersey came during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where his performance again failed to impress.
In the recently announced squad for the Australia tour, Shami’s name was missing indicating that the BCCI may be unlikely to recall him anytime soon. Shami has informed the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) that he will be available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025–26, starting from October 15. He now needs to deliver strong performances in the Ranji Trophy to earn a comeback to the Indian team and to secure his place in the IPL as well.
A BCCI official told The Telegraph, “At this moment, it’s getting increasingly tougher for Shami to return to the Indian team. In the Duleep game too, he wasn’t too impressive, barring one odd spell. Besides, he isn’t getting any younger, and pace-wise, he didn’t seem to be at his best in the Duleep. But to continue in the IPL, he has to play a decent number of domestic games.”
Meanwhile, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said, “I had spoken to Shami six or seven days back, and he had expressed his desire to play. So, on our front, we’re optimistic about his availability for the Ranji opener.”
Also read: AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: When and Where to Watch India’s Qualifier vs Singapore
Mohammed Shami’s Bowling Career
| Stats | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 64 | 229 | 3.31 |
| ODI | 108 | 206 | 5.58 |
| T20 | 25 | 27 | 8.95 |
| IPL | 119 | 133 | 8.63 |
Written By:- Manjunath S
