After Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out of the ODI squad for the Australia series, questions have begun to arise about the future of his international career.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the BCCI is reportedly not keen on including Shami back in the Indian team. The report states that Shami’s recent performances in domestic cricket have not been impressive, and at the age of 35, his chances of making a comeback to the national side are becoming increasingly difficult.
Injuries and poor form have added to the challenges
Shami last played for India during the Champions Trophy in March 2025. Since then, he has been out of international action due to injuries and has only featured in domestic matches. However, his performances there also failed to impress the selectors.
Related: ROKO’s Future in Doubt, Irfan Pathan Raises Questions on World Cup 2027 Preparation
A BCCI official told The Telegraph, “At this stage, it is becoming quite difficult for Shami to make a comeback to Team India. Even in the Duleep Trophy match, he was not very effective—just one or two decent spells. Moreover, his pace and sharpness are not what they used to be.” The official also mentioned that if Shami wants to continue playing in the IPL, he must participate regularly in domestic cricket.
Preparing for a Ranji Trophy return
The report further adds that Shami has expressed his desire to play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. Bengal will begin their campaign on 15 October against Uttarakhand. Bengal’s head coach, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, said, “I spoke to Shami about six or seven days ago. He expressed his willingness to play. So, from our side, we are hopeful about his availability.”
However, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has not yet made a final decision on his selection. A senior official said, “We will soon sit with Laxmi to discuss team selection, and a decision might be made by Tuesday.”
Uncertain future but hope remains
Although the report paints a rather bleak picture regarding Shami’s chances of returning to Team India, his readiness to play for Bengal shows that he is not ready to step away from the game just yet. His performance in the upcoming Ranji season will likely determine whether there is still a door open for him in Indian cricket or not.